Navy carries out inspections on board an oil tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet
The ship had set sail on 16 July from the port of Cotonou, in Benin, bound for Istanbul
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Key points
Inspection in the Mediterranean of the Thaon di Revel, the flagship of the European Eunavfor Med Irini mission. This morning, the Italian military inspected the oil tanker Toa Payoh, which is subject to European Union sanctions and is believed to be part of the Russian shadow fleet; it was intercepted west of Pantelleria whilst sailing under the Cameroonian flag.
The ship had set sail on 16 July from the port of Cotonou, in Benin, bound for Istanbul. The inspection, as provided for in the operation’s mandate, was intended to verify the merchant ship’s actual nationality by checking which flag it is authorised to fly.
Operation lasted two hours
According to the Ministry of Defence, the captain of the oil tanker did not initially cooperate as requested. A team of Italian military personnel was therefore deployed by helicopter and carried out the necessary checks. The operation, supported by a Greek vessel and a Polish patrol aircraft, lasted around two hours and concluded without incident.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The inspection took place in international waters, in accordance with Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which allows a military vessel, under certain conditions, to inspect the nationality and flag of a merchant vessel.
Congratulations from Crosetto
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has offered his “congratulations” to the crew of the Nave Thaon di Revel and the military personnel involved, describing the operation as concrete evidence of Italia’s contribution to security in the Mediterranean and to the European Union’s efforts. Checks are now underway on the documentation and information gathered during the inspection.
