The British government is reportedly preparing to authorise raids on Russian-linked 'shadow fleet' oil tankers, using a newly identified legal justification to escalate economic pressure on Vladimir Putin's regime.
Legal Grounds for Action
According to defence sources speaking to The Times, ministers have identified provisions within the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act (2018) that could allow UK forces to detain vessels. This legal breakthrough comes just days after British armed forces supported a United States operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic.
The key legal principle hinges on a vessel's status. Under maritime law, ships must be properly registered to a country and fly its flag. Vessels that fail to do this can be deemed stateless, a status that must be established before the UK can legally seize them.
Special Forces on Standby
While no specific timeframe has been set for potential missions, it is understood that the elite Special Boat Service (SBS) would likely lead any raids. A defence source confirmed that options to seize further vessels are actively being considered.
The Ministry of Defence maintained its standard policy, stating: “It has been the longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on the activities of special forces.”
This development follows last week's joint operation, where UK forces provided support for the capture of the Marinera, a tanker previously known as the Bella-1. The vessel, linked to Venezuela, was intercepted as it travelled through waters between Iceland and Scotland.
Broader Context of Military Readiness
The move to target the shadow fleet occurs against a backdrop of intense scrutiny over Britain's military capabilities. The UK's top military chief, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, admitted to the Commons defence select committee that the country lacks a complete plan for mobilising the National Health Service in the event of a major, Article Five conflict.
Sir Richard also conceded that there is insufficient funding to deliver all planned military programmes alongside the commitments outlined in the recent strategic defence review, becoming visibly irritated when MPs suggested cuts may be inevitable.
Defence Secretary John Healey told MPs that the seized Marinera had a “nefarious history” and was part of a “Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.” He stated the seizure was legally justified as the tanker was stateless, having falsely flown the flag of Guyana before attempting to adopt a Russian flag.
The potential escalation in seizing shadow fleet vessels marks a significant step in the UK's efforts to enforce international sanctions and disrupt the clandestine networks funding Russia's war effort, even as questions persist about the nation's broader defence preparedness.
