Shadow Fleet Vessel "Forwarder" Enters English Channel After Smyrtos Incursion

A Russian-flagged tanker, the "Forwarder", has entered the English Channel for the first time since UK forces boarded the ship Smyrtos on Sunday. Ship‑tracking data reviewed by BBC Verify shows the vessel departed Primorsk on 12 June and is now sailing south, broadcasting a destination of Dongying port, China.

While moving through the waters, the Royal Navy’s HMS Tyne tracked the tanker's location. The forwarder is one of the shadow fleet vessels, a fleet of more than 700 ageing tankers that carry 75 % of Russia’s sanctioned oil, declared the UK, the US and the EU to be sanctioned in 2025. Initially flagged by Russian oil company Rosneft, the vessel’s name was changed twice after it was accused of fueling Russia’s war economy.

The incident adds to a broader tension in the region: Following the boarding of Smyrtos—a ship sailing without a registered flag and in breach of international law—British forces announced they could now board sanctioned vessels passing through UK waters. Experts say Python;cheks The UK is unlikely to board a docked Russian-flagged ship that is under escort by a warship, yet the event demonstrates the increased possibility of further confrontations.

According to the Ministry of Defence, ship‑tracking data revealed 94 shadow fleet vessels had briefly entered UK territorial waters in 2023, a smaller zone extending up to 12 nautical miles from the coast. In May, BBC Verify identified almost 200 shadow fleet vessels navigating the English Channel since the announcement of interception by British forces. The forwarder’s navigation through the channel, with no apparent intervention, signals a changing dynamic in maritime enforcement and the potential for escalated tensions in the region.