Russia to Escort Merchant Ships Carrying Cargo Amidst Interception Concerns
Moscow has announced plans to provide naval escorts for merchant ships transporting Russian cargo, a move aimed at countering the increasing interception of such vessels by Western navies. The decision follows a series of incidents and heightened scrutiny of Russian maritime trade routes.
The Chenab Times has learned that the Maritime Board of Russia, chaired by top Kremlin aide Nikolai Patrushev, convened a meeting to establish new protocols for confronting the detention of Russian ships on international shipping lanes. These guidelines are intended to ensure secure and efficient navigation, particularly within the Azov-Black Sea basin and the Baltic Sea region, though their applicability beyond these areas remains unclear.
This development comes as European nations have intensified efforts to disrupt Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which Moscow utilizes to transport hydrocarbons to key markets like India and China. The urgency of the situation is compounded by increased demand in Asian markets, influenced by the ongoing crisis in West Asia and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Nikolai Patrushev stated that shipowners engaged with Russia have been instructed on coordinating with the Navy, indicating a reinforced oversight of cargo ships operating for the country. He added that the Russian Navy will monitor vessels under escort and oversee navigation zones to enhance maritime safety. This decision coincided with an announcement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who stated that military forces had been given permission to board and detain Russian ships suspected of circumventing Western sanctions through oil exports.
Experts suggest these actions could lead to confrontations between Ukraine’s supporters and Russia on the high seas. To mitigate the risk of detention, vessel operators and owners involved in shipping to and from Russia have reportedly received detailed instructions for operational coordination with ports and naval authorities. The Maritime Board has emphasized that monitoring of cargo ships carrying Russian freight has been intensified, with authorities now able to request escorts for Russian-flagged vessels from mobile fire support units via port captains, thereby bolstering maritime security.
The Russian Maritime Board has also noted an escalation in the threat level for ships departing Russian ports, citing an increased risk of attacks, including potential terrorist acts. This concern was underscored by a recent incident where the Turkish tanker Altura, carrying approximately 140,000 tons of oil, sustained damage in a drone attack in the Black Sea. The vessel, sailing under the flag of Sierra Leone, reportedly suffered damage to its superstructure and captain’s bridge, with a leak in the engine room. The tanker was en route from Novorossiysk to Istanbul.
Another incident cited involved a drone attack on the Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean region, attributed to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). International media reports have documented several instances of interception and detention of vessels suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet. These include the Ethera in the North Sea, intercepted by Belgian special forces; the Comoros-flagged tanker Grinch, boarded by French naval commandos in the Alboran Sea; the Sea Owl I, stopped by the Swedish Coast Guard; and the Kiwala, which was detained by Estonia and later intercepted by France.
Ukraine’s SBU has also reportedly carried out drone attacks on tankers in the Black Sea involved in transporting crude oil from the Novorossisk Port, part of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles exports of landlocked Kazakh oil.
The Chenab Times News Desk