An aerial view shows the oil tanker named Boracay (also called Pushpa), a vessel being investigated by French authorities and suspected of belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" involved in the Russian oil trade, off the coast of the western France port of Saint-Nazaire, France, October 2, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
By Patrick Van Oosterom
Oct 9, 2026 (Bloomberg) –The Dutch government proposed a legal change to crack down more effectively on Russia’s shadow fleet, prompting the Russian embassy to threaten its own retaliation.
The Netherlands said the adjustments would allow it to more easily intercept such vessels, which are used to circumvent international sanctions and often sail without a flag. If the bill is passed, shadow fleet ships “sailing under a false flag in the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone can be detained and required to proceed to an anchorage or port for further inspection,” according to a government press release Friday.
The Russian embassy in the Netherlands replied promptly to the development and asked if the Hague “is ready for Russia’s counteractions?” in a social media post. “As our President has made it clear, Moscow is free to mirror hostile actions against our vessels in a suitable for us manner.”
European nations are already on alert to potential Russian threats on its territory. Attacks on commercial vessels off the Black Sea’s western coast are also on the rise, with Russian drone strikes damaging multiple ships earlier this week.
© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
European naval forces have boarded another sanctioned tanker linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” marking the latest enforcement action as the European Union ramps up pressure on vessels suspected of...
ROME, Aug 2 (Reuters) – An EU naval mission led by Italy boarded a tanker from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” on Sunday, the second such operation in less than two weeks as Europe intensifies...
The UK and the Netherlands have agreed to jointly develop a new class of amphibious transport ships in a £2.4 billion program that will see the vessels built in British...
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
