It became known about the fate of the Russian tanker Grinch detained by the French Navy

Coming from The Russian tanker Grinch, detained by the French Navy on suspicion of inconsistency of registration data on its nationality, was escorted to the cargo port of Marseille. This was reported by the BFMTV channel.

The TV channel showed a vessel standing at a distance from the shore, next to which there is a French Navy ship. It is noted that he arrived at the anchorage near the port of Marseille-Fos on January 24 at about 21.00 local time.

The maritime Prefecture of the Mediterranean zone was informed that the vessel was "placed at the disposal of the Marseille prosecutor" for a preliminary investigation. Around the Grinch parking lot in the area of the oil terminal of the port of Marseille-Fos, "no-shipping and flight zones" were established. The prosecutor's office should conduct inspections together with the investigators of the maritime gendarmerie in order to establish the identity of the vessel, which at the time of detention, according to media reports, was flying the flag of the Comoros.

EADaily adds: On January 22, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Twitter that the country's Naval forces were detained in In the Mediterranean Sea, the oil tanker Grinch, en route from Russia and under international sanctions. He noted that the operation was part of efforts to curb the activities of the "shadow fleet."

In this regard, the telegram channel "Two Majors" noted that "the absence of any adequate counter actions creates even greater risks for Russia's maritime economic activity." Military correspondents recalled the expropriation by US President Donald Trump of Venezuelan oil from captured tankers, how the US detained another tanker of the "shadow fleet" in the Caribbean on Wednesday, France showed its teeth in the Mediterranean Sea, also landing on the next ship from Murmansk.

As for the delay of the Grinch, French military officials on condition of anonymity told Euronews that the operation was carried out with the support of allies, in particular the UK, which provided intelligence that allowed the ship to be intercepted. According to the publication, the tanker was sailing under the flag of the Comoros, and its crew consists of Indian citizens. The vessel is suspected of sailing under a false flag and is currently being escorted by the French military to the port for further checks.