Dublin, August 9, 2025 — Irish authorities have tracked a sanctioned oil tanker sailing through the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) after it diverted from the English Channel, a route increasingly avoided by vessels seeking to sidestep stricter enforcement of sanctions and insurance requirements.
The tanker, Blue, loaded a cargo of crude oil from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on July 31 before proceeding westward. According to maritime monitoring reports, the vessel switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal as it entered Irish-controlled waters — a tactic often employed by so-called “shadow fleet” operators to conceal their positions.
The Blue is listed under multiple false identities and is currently flagged to Benin, though both the United Kingdom and the European Union have blacklisted the vessel. Environmental campaigners, including Greenpeace, have warned that such ageing tankers pose significant pollution risks, particularly when operating without valid insurance or maintenance oversight.
UK authorities in the English Channel have recently tightened monitoring, requiring tankers to present proof of insurance before transiting the busy shipping corridor. Maritime analysts say this has prompted an uptick in shadow fleet traffic along Ireland’s west coast, where enforcement is limited to aerial and surface monitoring.
The Irish Air Corps and Naval Service have been tracking the Blue and other similar vessels, though Dublin has not taken steps to detain or inspect them at sea. This contrasts with measures in parts of the Baltic Sea and the English Channel, where shadow tankers have been intercepted and redirected.
After several hours operating without AIS visibility, the Blue reappeared on tracking systems on Thursday evening, showing a course towards the Suez Canal at a speed of 10 knots. Shipping intelligence suggests the likely destination is India, one of the largest buyers of Russian oil since the introduction of Western sanctions.
Maritime security experts warn that the use of Ireland’s EEZ as an alternative passage for sanctioned vessels could expose the country to environmental hazards and international scrutiny. The Irish government has yet to announce whether it will adopt tougher inspection protocols in response to the growing trend.
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