UK reportedly identifies legal basis to board unflagged shadow fleet tankers

British ministers believe the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 could allow military force to be used against oil tankers sailing without a valid national flag, the Kyiv Independent reported on 12 January, citing a BBC report based on unnamed government sources. The vessels in question are used to get round oil export restrictions on Russia, Iran and Venezuela, according to the report. Discussions on how boardings would work in practice were continuing and no timeline had been set. The UK has sanctioned more than 500 vessels it links to the shadow fleet, and British forces helped the US seize the tanker Marinera on 7 January.

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