Kremlin will take measures to ensure maritime cargo safety in light of this negative precedent. 

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said his country deems France’s detention of the tanker Tagor “illegal” and bordering on piracy.

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French authorities said their military had detained the tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, alleging the vessel was sailing from Russia’s Murmansk under a false flag.

The Russian embassy in Paris said that it had formally requested information from French authorities regarding the possible presence of Russian nationals on board the detained tanker, but had not yet received a response from the French Foreign Ministry. According to preliminary information, the captain of the tanker seized by the French Navy is a Russian citizen.

“We consider such actions illegal; they border on international piracy. We absolutely reject the claim that they are being carried out in full compliance with international law,” Peskov said, stressing that Russia will continue to take measures to ensure maritime cargo safety in light of this negative precedent. 

The tanker Tagor is a crude oil tanker (IMO 9282481) built in 2005 and classified as an Aframax/LR2 tanker. The vessel is approximately 252 meters long, 44 meters wide, and has a deadweight capacity of about 114,800 tons.

Over the years, it has sailed under different flags, including Madagascar and Guinea, and has been associated with companies involved in international oil transport.

Maritime tracking databases identify it as an active tanker used for carrying crude oil, with voyages linking ports in the Arctic, Baltic, Mediterranean, and other regions.

French authorities stated that the tanker was suspected of being part of a network of ships allegedly used to transport Russian oil while circumventing international sanctions imposed after the Ukrainian conflict.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Xinhua – Vesselfinder – Reuters

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