The Italian navy has boarded a tanker linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in international waters near Pantelleria in the Mediterranean as part of a European Union mission to check the vessel’s nationality and flag status.
The tanker Toa Payoh, which is under European Union sanctions, was intercepted west of Pantelleria, an Italian island located between Sicily and Tunisia.
The vessel was sailing under the declared flag of Cameroon and was travelling to Istanbul after leaving the port of Cotonou in Benin on July 16, according to Italy’s Defence Ministry.
The inspection was carried out on Sunday, Aug. 2, by the Italian naval ship Thaon di Revel, the flagship of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, the EU mission operating in the Mediterranean.
Italy’s Defence Ministry said the purpose of the boarding was to verify the tanker’s nationality, which is based on the flag a vessel is authorised to fly.
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