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The European Union has proposed restrictions on three companies that allegedly provided fake flags to sanctioned oil tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, Bloomberg reports, citing reviewed documents.
The proposed measures are part of the latest EU sanctions package, currently under discussion among member states.
According to the documents, the firms issued false flags of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten to at least eight vessels under sanctions.
None of the three territories are listed in the Paris MoU registry of official flags, meaning they are not authorized to provide such services. In May, the Netherlands alerted the International Maritime Organization that companies were issuing fraudulent certificates on behalf of Sint Maarten.
The EU aims to increase pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet and reduce Moscow’s oil revenues, Bloomberg writes.
The package also includes sanctions on about 120 additional vessels and restrictions on several organizations in third countries that enable Russia’s energy trade.
Earlier reports noted that Russia’s shadow tankers have been dumping oil in European waters despite existing sanctions and service bans — exposing the continent to the risk of major environmental disasters.
