Belgium plans legal action as 500 Russian shadow fleet ships evade sanctions
Belgium is preparing a legislative amendment to enable the interception of ships from the Russian “shadow fleet” that are sailing under false flags or without a flag. Belgian Justice minister Annelies Verlinden announced the move on Thursday, amid growing concern about tankers suspected of helping Russia evade sanctions on its oil exports.
Verlinden said Belgium must establish certain legal and operational frameworks to make relevant provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea applicable domestically. Under current Belgian law, authorities lack the legal basis to stop or board such vessels in the country’s waters.
An investigation by De Tijd and VRT NWS, conducted with British, Dutch and German media partners, identified more than 500 ships from the primarily Russian shadow fleet sailing under false flags or no flag at all. These vessels use the flags of more than 30 countries, including Angola, Aruba, Zambia and Botswana, to disguise their origins.
European sanctions
In the past three months alone, from 1 November to 1 February, 61 such ships passed through European waters; 20 crossed the North Sea and at least 13 entered Belgium’s exclusive economic zone, according to the investigation. So far, Belgium has not intercepted any of these vessels.
France recently took action against a suspected shadow-fleet tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, intercepting it after authorities alleged it was flying a false flag. French president Emmanuel Macron said the operation was justified on that basis, and a judicial investigation has been opened.
Separately, Germany has seized a Russian shadow-fleet tanker, the Eventin, which lost propulsion in the Baltic Sea and was taken into custody under EU sanctions. Authorities said the seizure sent a firm message that Moscow’s use of decrepit and opaque tankers would not be tolerated.
The European Union has also been tightening sanctions on the shadow fleet and its enablers. In December, the Council of the EU announced sanctions against individuals and companies involved in operating or managing vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, as part of broader efforts to curb Moscow’s revenue from hydrocarbon exports.
Growing pressure
EU states are moving beyond sanctions alone. In late January, Germany and 13 other EU countries issued a joint statement warning that ships sailing in the Baltic and North Sea under multiple or false flags would be treated as stateless, allowing tougher action.
A proposed EU maritime declaration would go further by enabling inspections of tankers suspected of carrying sanctioned Russian oil, and by strengthening cooperation with flag states.
Belgian officials have said the legislative amendment is urgent if the country is to mirror actions taken by other coastal states and contribute more actively to enforcement efforts. But legal and operational hurdles remain before Belgium can board, detain or divert suspect vessels in its waters.
© PHOTO IMAGO
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