The oil tanker Grinch was intercepted by the French Navy in the Mediterranean on Jan. 22. Photo: AFP
French authorities have taken into custody the captain of the oil tanker Grinch (IMO: 9288851), which was sailing from the Russian port of Murmansk and is linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” Broadcaster BFM TV reported the news, citing the Marseille prosecutor’s office.
According to Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone, the ship’s captain — an Indian national — was detained on the evening of Jan. 24 after the tanker reached an anchorage point in the Gulf of Fos near the Marseille-Fos port oil terminal. He was handed over to judicial authorities by the French Navy.
Prosecutors said a preliminary investigation was opened on Jan. 22. The case concerns violations of rules governing the use of a national flag and is being handled by the maritime gendarmerie’s investigative unit in Toulon together with Marseille’s Ship Safety Center. The remaining crew members, who are also Indian nationals, remain aboard the tanker.
Investigators say the Grinch was sailing under a false flag of the Comoros Islands and that its legal status is marked by a “proven and ongoing violation of the law.” The Insider previously reported that the tanker has changed flags at least five times over the past two years, registering under the Marshall Islands, Liberia, Gabon, Barbados, and, finally, the Comoros.
The French navy intercepted the tanker in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and North Africa. In a statement, the navy said the vessel was traveling from Murmansk and that it was detained during an operation carried out with the support of allies, including the United Kingdom.
The tanker Grinch is listed on sanctions registers in the UK, EU, and U.S. for its role in the activities of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” It appears under the name Grinch in British sanctions documents, while EU and U.S. lists identify it under its former name, Carl. The vessel was built in 2004 and, according to French sources, has been used to export oil products, including to China and India. French authorities earlier said the tanker was brought to the French coast and placed under the authority of the Marseille prosecutor’s office for further investigation.