New information about the ship suspected of belonging to the Russian "dark fleet" detained by France

The oil tanker Boracay, believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet", resumed its journey towards the Suez Canal on October 3.

The Boracay oil tanker is believed to be part of Russia's "dark fleet". Photo: VesselFinder.
The Boracay oil tanker is believed to be part of Russia's "dark fleet". Photo: VesselFinder.

The ship has been detained by the French navy near the port city of Saint-Nazaire since September 27, according to data from the Marine Traffic website. It is unclear why France allowed the ship to continue its journey, according to Euromaidan Press.

The “dark fleet” is what the West calls a network of oil tankers and cargo ships linked to Russia. These ships fly foreign flags and frequently change their identities to hide their true owners. The fleet transports oil and gas, helping Russia evade Western sanctions.

The Boracay has also been linked to a series of mysterious drones that appeared in the skies over Denmark last month, including near military bases.

It is unclear whether France has recovered anything from the ship’s several days of inspection. The Chinese captain and another person were initially detained by France, but have now been released to continue navigating the ship with the crew to India. However, the captain has been ordered by Paris to appear in court in France on February 23, 2026.

Before being detained, the Boracay was en route to the Indian port of Vadinar, where the Nayara Energy refinery is located. President Emmanuel Macron said the seizure and inspection of the ship was a demonstration of France's determination to put pressure on Russia's "dark fleet".

However, Mr. Macron warned against making a direct connection between the Boracay and the UAV incidents in Denmark, stressing that the French authorities' investigation had not yet looked into the issue.


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