The Indian Coast Guard conducted the country’s first-ever operation against the so-called “dark fleet,” seizing three oil tankers suspected of participating in an international oil smuggling scheme. The vessels were intercepted in waters off the country’s west coast and escorted to Mumbai for further investigation.
According to Indian authorities, the vessels regularly changed identities and used questionable documents. Such tankers often handle sanctioned cargo, including oil and petroleum products, and pose an increased risk to maritime safety.
🚢 Which vessels were detained?
While their names were not officially disclosed, shipping analytics platforms have compared photographs with the tankers:
🟠 Chiltern
🟠 Asphalt Star
🟠 Stellar Ruby
All three vessels were previously sanctioned by the US for alleged links to the Iranian oil trade.
📝 This is the first time India has directly taken forceful action against a shadow fleet. The decision comes amid increased pressure from the US and European countries to restrict the shipment of sanctioned oil. New Delhi previously stated that it would not allow sanctioned tankers to unload in its ports.
🚢 The shadow fleet is a network of approximately 1,500 tankers transporting Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil using opaque registration and operating schemes. Many of these vessels are old, poorly maintained, and have unstable flag histories, increasing the risks to crews and the environment.
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