European Union naval force intercepts suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker MV Sun in Mediterranean

The Italian Navy boarded a Cameroon-flagged oil tanker suspected of shuttling Russian crude in violation of EU sanctions on August 30, adding another chapter to Europe’s growing campaign against Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet. The vessel, MV Sun, was intercepted south of Sicily by the ITS Paolo Thaon di Revel, the flagship of EU Naval Force Mediterranean Operation Irini. Crew from the Italian warship conducted a flag verification procedure under Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a legal mechanism that allows naval forces to board vessels whose registration appears questionable. A growing pattern of enforcement The MV Sun boarding represents the sixth time the EU has intercepted a vessel suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in recent months. The MV Sun itself is a Suezmax crude oil tanker built in 2005, with a gross tonnage of roughly 81,000 GT and deadweight tonnage of 159,000 DWT. The tanker has been under EU and UK sanctions since May 2025, specifically for its involvement in transporting Russian oil and petroleum products. At the time of the interception, the MV Sun was reportedly sailing empty toward Skagen, a port at the northern tip of Denmar...