Russia: Shipping
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 6167 on Russia: Shipping, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of exercising the right of visit on Russian Shadow Fleet vessels within the UK’s territorial waters.
Answered by Stephen Doughty
In the early morning of 14 June, Royal Marines and Specialised Law enforcement Officers boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker - SMYRTOS - in the English Channel. This was a UK-sanctioned vessel, that had transited the UK territorial sea without a legitimate flag. This operation was done in strict adherence to national and international law, relaying on powers under the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as well as United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Article 110. We will continue to enforce our sanctions in the appropriate way as necessary.
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