EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced that on Monday 20th July, the EU has boarded the vessel, South Star suspected of carrying a false Cameroonian flag and conducted an inspection of the vessel. However, the EU did not seize the vessel.
The vessel is suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet network and was loaded with Russian oil cargo.
The operation was conducted by EUNAVFOR MED IRINI via the Italian Navy and the ship was intercepted outside the coast of Sicily after having travelled to Tunisia. The vessel is now back in the Tunisian port of Rades (La Goulette).
The High Representative also announced that EUNAVFOR ATLANTA will also begin conducting flag-verification operations in the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
These EU measures of ship verification complement the series of rounds of EU sanctions, however the proposed 21st sanctions package is being vetoed by Greece, over new measures proposed on ships servicing Russian shadow fleet vessels and LNG transports. Malta and Cyprus had also previously opposed similar sanctions.
Newsroom
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