Royal Navy forces monitored a sanctioned Russian-linked oil tanker as it transited the Strait of Gibraltar, ahead of a subsequent French boarding operation, as part of wider allied efforts to disrupt Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet.
Patrol boat HMS Dagger, part of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, tracked the tanker Grinch as it passed through the narrow maritime choke point linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The vessel is one of hundreds identified by the UK and European partners as being used to move Russian oil in breach of international sanctions.
UK monitoring activity took place before French forces boarded the tanker, with British tracking and reporting helping to build the operational picture as the ship moved through the strait. The Royal Navy also took photographs of the vessel during its transit, contributing to intelligence shared with allies.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the episode highlighted an increased focus on countering illicit maritime networks, stating: “Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government.” He added: “I can confirm that the UK has provided tracking and monitoring in support of the French operation to board the tanker Grinch. This support included HMS Dagger monitoring the vessel through the Strait of Gibraltar.”
The Strait of Gibraltar remains one of Europe’s most strategically significant maritime corridors, handling heavy commercial traffic and offering limited room for manoeuvre. Its geography makes it a focal point for monitoring vessels suspected of sanctions evasion, particularly tankers operating with opaque ownership, reflagging practices, or questionable insurance arrangements.
Bugger tracking the shadow fleet tankers; seize them!
Deprive Russia of its life blood (oil/gas exports).
It was seized last week, by the French, this Is old news that was reported here (and many other places) last week, which adds to the confusion 🤔
Ah, fair enough.
I thought this was another one.
Embarrassing that the French are doing their bit and we’re just following them. Starmer needs to take the gloves off and authorise the Royal Navy to start seizing Russian tankers wherever they are found.
Of interest re Gibraltar and surveillance, the MoD Maritime Data Centre, on the Windmill Hill site at the southern end of the rock, also monitors all vessels in the straight. It is or was, predominantly RN staffed.
Ah, good to see we still use “Mark one eyeballs” 👀😁
Well yes if you’ve seen it it does look much like an ATC Tower, so binos and eyeballs very much involved.
I’d say with confidence they use an awful lot more as well.
Ha, yes I believe they do !
I’d be playing Battleships If I was there, or maybe Top Trumps !
Top Trumps is good
Zelensky criticises Europe for not doing enough to stop Russia’s shadow fleet, saying that while the US takes action against tankers, European countries largely stand by. The same day, France boards the Grinch 👍
The ships we are now sending out to deal with the Russians seem very small nowadays.
Ships don’t do boarding of tankers, helicopters do. As the USA found out with its two week slow chase across the Atlantic.
Old T….and the White Ensign looks tiny. How would the hostile ship clearly see it at distance?
Turns out it’s really easy for a country with 14 global territories (mostly strategically placed near a maritime choke point), to enforce a naval blockade. Especially when our enemy is a continental power that we spent 300 years ensuring it’s practically land locked.
Russian navy is currently conducting naval exercises of the coats of South Africa with two supped up corvette’s along with Iran.
The challenge for us has never been capability, it’s having the political will to take that step in the first place.
Agree
It’s going to be interesting to see if and when Russia flips its lid over these seizures and responds if it will do it alone. I understand the stopping of ships but the selling and or using of their confiscated oil is that actually legal in international law? Is it kind of disposing of the “proceeds of crime”?
If they are stateless, then it becomes a salvage. Property to the possessor.
Seriously? With a harbour picket boat??
Yes, that does draw ones attention but on the other hand as some have pointed out in the past that the RN’s task here is to monitor, not to engage in battle! HMS Cutlass with her 3 machine guns is not really designed for the front line!
Well, up against the Spanish, she’s not designed for very much other than being sea-worthy.
Biggest vessel we have there is a RiverB2, and that may have been deployed elsewhere, as its not for Gib waters.
The RN Gib Sqn has the 2 Cutlass boats, and some RHIBS.
The GDP also have RHIBS for the harbour area only.
There’s no need for anything bigger, any interception would involve heli born assets utilising the airfield who could be flown to the area, maybe an escort from the uk coming down to monitor depending on threat.