French navy boards tanker Grinch in Mediterranean and diverts it to Marseille

French naval forces, supported by British forces, boarded the tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean on 22 January using helicopters and naval vessels, The Barents Observer reported. The 250-metre ship had sailed from Murmansk and was flying what the paper called a false Comoros flag. President Emmanuel Macron said France would "not tolerate any violation". Al Jazeera reported that the tanker was diverted to Marseille-Fos and that Marseille prosecutors were investigating an alleged failure to confirm its nationality. The vessel is under UK sanctions as Grinch, and under US and EU sanctions under its former name, Carl, according to both outlets.

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