"We're stepping up": How can UK legally seize Russia shadow fleet ships using Royal Navy? MPs explore options
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
Ministers believe they have found a legal basis to allow for Royal Navy and military personnel to seize suspected shadow fleet vessels.
As reported by the BBC, the government is aiming to step up its response to illicit vessels funding states while avoiding international sanctions. Royal Fleet Auxiliary and RAF forces supported a US mission last week to seize the oil tanker Marinera, also known as Bella 1.
Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, have been accused of operating ships without a valid national flag to avoid sanctions on crude oil. British forces have not boarded any vessels to date, but the government has been evaluating options regarding such measures.
Defence secretary John Healey told the House of Commons last week that sanctions have been imposed on 544 vessels, which have forced 200 ships off the sea. He added that this has reduced the Moscow shadow fleet’s overall capacity by almost half - reducing oil revenues by 27 per cent compared to October 2024.
Mr Healey said further military operations will be developed “We owe it to the Ukrainians to step up action on these shadow operations,” the Labour MP said. “We’re deterring, disrupting, and degrading the Russian shadow fleet as a priority.
“The UK will not stand by while malign activity increases on the high seas. Alongside our allies, we’re stepping up our response to shadow vessels and will continue to do so.” It has not been a quiet start to 2026 for the Royal Navy, with HMS Mersey deployed last week to shadow Russian ships believed to be transporting sanctioned military hardware.
How can the UK legally use the Royal Navy to seize shadow fleet vessels?
Politicians believe the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act 2018 can allow for military force to be used. The BBC said there are plans for the armed forces to use these powers to stop shadow fleet vessels in UK waters. It’s now known when the first action will go ahead.
Each ship is registered to a specific country to allow it to sail through international waters, while offering protections under law. New legal mechanism identified by the government could be applied to sanction vessels not legitimately flagged. This would apply to the Marinera tanker seized last week.
Speaking to Sky News yesterday (January 11), transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the number of insurance checks on ships were being increased, with more than 600 ships being stopped sailing near British waters. Illegitimately flagged ships often have no insurance, so making these examinations could be used to put the spotlight on shadow fleet vessels.
Ms Alexander declined to comment on how many alleged shadow vessels were known to have sailed in British waters. She said: “Providing you with that information only helps one person and that is President Putin."