01-02-2026, 09:54 PM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/russ...19011.html
This is relevant to Ukraine in terms of interdicting Russian oil shipped via the "shadow fleet". Something in this scenario is rotten. No USCG vessel would be attempting to stop and "visit" another vessel without a boarding team embarked. IMO the US knew this vessel was Russia owned and that it would resist boarding. It probably has an armed anti-boarding team, or we fear it does. Otherwise, the stop and visit would have happened weeks ago.
Russia has now published a new registry of its ships that includes the tanker being pursued, under another name. Russia wants the US to leave it alone. What we SHOULD do is tell Russia that if it is a vessel registered in Russia it should have been flying a Russian flag. It was not. It also should be using its AIS transponder in accordance with international regulations. It was not. Therefore, the US needs to "visit" the vessel to ensure it indeed has the correct registration paperwork, has a Russian ensign, has a functioning AIS, has appropriate insurance, and that all its mariners are properly licensed. Then the questions of failure to comply with regulations can be addressed. Just tell them to stop and we will check these items out. If everything is as it should be, we will let them be on their way. Since they are now allegedly a legally registered Russian merchant ship, they should have no reason not to comply. We should also tell the Russians that if the vessel does not comply, we will have to assume it has been hijacked and we will act accordingly.
This is relevant to Ukraine in terms of interdicting Russian oil shipped via the "shadow fleet". Something in this scenario is rotten. No USCG vessel would be attempting to stop and "visit" another vessel without a boarding team embarked. IMO the US knew this vessel was Russia owned and that it would resist boarding. It probably has an armed anti-boarding team, or we fear it does. Otherwise, the stop and visit would have happened weeks ago.
Russia has now published a new registry of its ships that includes the tanker being pursued, under another name. Russia wants the US to leave it alone. What we SHOULD do is tell Russia that if it is a vessel registered in Russia it should have been flying a Russian flag. It was not. It also should be using its AIS transponder in accordance with international regulations. It was not. Therefore, the US needs to "visit" the vessel to ensure it indeed has the correct registration paperwork, has a Russian ensign, has a functioning AIS, has appropriate insurance, and that all its mariners are properly licensed. Then the questions of failure to comply with regulations can be addressed. Just tell them to stop and we will check these items out. If everything is as it should be, we will let them be on their way. Since they are now allegedly a legally registered Russian merchant ship, they should have no reason not to comply. We should also tell the Russians that if the vessel does not comply, we will have to assume it has been hijacked and we will act accordingly.