Western states lean on the law of the sea to board Russia's shadow fleet, Al Jazeera analysis says

An Al Jazeera analysis describes how the US, UK and EU states are using boarding and inspection rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea against tankers they link to Russia's shadow fleet. It says ships on fraudulent registries, or with no valid flag, give states a legal basis to board them rather than simply let them pass. Windward analyst Michelle Bockmann told the broadcaster the aim is to disrupt, deter and raise Russia's costs. Kristina Siig of Aalborg University argued that the convention does not itself allow the sanctions goal to be enforced, which requires a state's own jurisdiction. The piece also quotes Nikolai Patrushev accusing Western countries of organising interceptions of Russian vessels.

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