Russian Tanker Enters English Channel, First Since Smyrtos Boarding

A Russian‑flagged tanker known as Forwarder entered the English Channel on Wednesday, the first time a "shadow fleet" vessel has moved through the waterway since the UK seized the Smyrtos earlier in the week, according to ship‑tracking data.

The Forwarder departed the port of Primorsk last week on a cargo of oil from Russia’s largest Baltic refinery, and the vessel’s journey was tracked by the UK’s naval and commercial maritime systems. It is headed for China’s Dongying port as its final destination.

The "shadow fleet" consists of more than 700 ageing tankers that allow Russia to sidestep Western sanctions on oil exports. Many of the vessels use opaque ownership structures and often fly flags of convenience. The Forwarder, however, is flagged by Russia and has been sanctioned by the UK, US and EU since 2025. It even changed its name twice following sanctions.

While the UK Ministry of Defence said it would not comment on specific operations, ship‑tracking records show a Royal Navy warship, HMS Tyne, patrolling near the tanker’s location. A Russian warship, Admiral Grigorovich, was also reported close to the channel after firing warning shots at a British yacht, but there is no confirmation of accompaniment.

After the Smyrtos boarding, many sanctioned tankers changed course to avoid the Channel, choosing the longer route around Ireland’s west coast, and the UK announced that it can now board vessels that are not operating in line with international law. Experts say that a direct action against a Russian‑flagged vessel would be a significant escalation in the current tensions.

In recent months, almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships have transited the Channel since the announcement of UK interception capabilities, with nearly 100 crossing into UK territorial waters, though no direct engagements have yet been recorded.

Sources: BBC Verify, Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence, and satellite imagery.