Tankers: English Channel
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ageing tankers, such as the 21 year old Kusto, transiting through the Channel on the environment.
Answered by Keir Mather
The Department for Transport is clear about the risks that ageing shadow fleet vessels pose to the safety of mariners, the marine environment and the UK’s national security. The Government remains committed to deterring and disrupting the shadow fleet.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has sanctioned over 500 vessels, including the Kusto in May 2025, which prohibits these vessels from entering into a UK port, and signals to the global maritime community that these vessels are dangerous and should not be interacted with.
DfT has operated the Voluntary Insurance Reporting Mechanism since October 2024, which increases scrutiny on shadow fleet vessels by challenging them for proof of their insurance as they transit the Channel. Since October 2024, over 600 vessels have been challenged.
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