An Italian-led European Union naval force boarded and inspected a sanctioned tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet west of Pantelleria on Sunday, 2 August, as European authorities intensify operations against vessels suspected of sailing under false flags and helping Moscow evade sanctions.
The vessel was identified as the Toa Payoh (IMO: 9298492), a chemical and oil-products tanker bearing the flag of Cameroon. It was travelling from Benin to Istanbul when it was intercepted by the EU’s EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI. The tanker had reportedly switched its registration to Cameroon only the previous week, raising questions about whether it was legally entitled to fly the country’s flag.
This was Operation IRINI’s second boarding of a Russian-linked shadow-fleet tanker in less than two weeks, following the inspection of the MV South Star on 20 July, with both operations taking place in the Mediterranean.
The captain initially refused to cooperate with the inspection, prompting Italian military personnel to descend from a helicopter and board the vessel. A Greek naval ship and a Polish maritime-patrol aircraft supported the operation. The inspection lasted approximately two hours and was completed without further incident.
The vessels has not been seized and it is marked heading to the Turkish port of Canakkale.
Footage below by the Italian Ministry of Defence.
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