ROME — An Italian Navy vessel leading the EU’s Operation Irini boarded a sanctioned tanker linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” on Sunday, in one of the bloc’s most visible maritime enforcement actions in the central Mediterranean.
Why it matters: The operation offers a concrete example of EU sanctions enforcement at sea.
- It highlights Italy’s operational role within the EU’s Mediterranean security architecture and containment of Russian hostile activities.
- The boarding involved assets from Italy, Greece and Poland, underscoring multinational cooperation under the EU mandate.
- The case brings renewed attention to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a growing focus of European sanctions policy.
Zoom in: The action. The Toa Payoh, a tanker subject to EU sanctions, had departed Cotonou, Benin, on July 16 and was bound for Istanbul when it was intercepted west of Pantelleria.
- According to the Italian Navy, the tanker’s captain initially did not provide the requested cooperation. An Italian marines boarding team was then inserted by helicopter from Thaon di Revel to carry out the inspection.
- The operation lasted about two hours and concluded safely, with support from a Greek naval vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft.
Italy’s message: Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto praised the personnel involved, saying: “I wish to commend the personnel of the ship Thaon di Revel and all the military personnel involved in the operation for the professionalism, preparation and firmness demonstrated.”
- Crosetto said the operation also demonstrated Italy’s contribution to security in the Mediterranean and to the European Union’s broader action in the region, adding: “AThis activity also concretely demonstrates Italy’s contribution to the security of the Mediterranean and to the action of the European Union.”
The legal basis. The Italian Navy said the boarding was conducted in international waters under the mandate of EUNAVFOR MED Irini and in full compliance with Article 110 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which allows a warship, under specific conditions, to verify the nationality of a merchant vessel and the flag it is entitled to fly.
- Sunday’s operation follows the July 20 boarding of the MV South Star, another tanker associated with Russia’s shadow fleet. The vessel was inspected by Irini forces due to suspicions that it was also sailing under a false flag.
- EUNAVFOR MED Irini is an EU naval mission launched in 2020 to enforce a U.N. arms embargo on Libya. Since then, the mission’s scope has been broadened, allowing it to conduct verification boardings.
Irini is changing. Brussels is increasingly turning EUNAVFOR MED Irini into a key instrument of its maritime security presence in the Mediterranean.
- In a conversation with Decode39, Rear Admiral (UH) Marco Casapieri outlined in April the evolving role of operation, highlighting its shift from embargo enforcement to a broader mission focused on maritime awareness, critical infrastructure protection, and European strategic resilience.
What we’re watching: The documents and information collected during the inspection will now be transmitted to the relevant European Union authorities for assessment.
- Based on that evaluation, EU member states may decide whether to take further action under their respective national legal frameworks, including measures such as diverting a vessel or initiating criminal proceedings where warranted.
(Photo: X, @MinisteroDifesa)
