A French court has sentenced the captain of a Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker to one year in prison for refusing to comply with a military boarding order.
A 39-year-old Chinese national was serving as captain of the tanker Boracay during a voyage from the Baltic Sea in September 2025. The vessel, operating without a clear national flag, was suspected of involvement in Russian “hybrid warfare” activities, including alleged links to drone operations that disrupted air traffic near Copenhagen.
Acting on intelligence reports, French naval forces intercepted the tanker near Brest to conduct a flag verification boarding. Authorities ordered the vessel to stop and prepare for inspection, but the captain failed to comply. French forces proceeded with the boarding operation regardless, taking control of the vessel and diverting it to Saint-Nazaire for further inspection.
During the search, two Russian nationals employed by a private security company with alleged ties to Russian intelligence were found onboard. However, no publicly disclosed evidence directly linked the vessel to the reported drone activity.
French prosecutors charged the captain with failure to comply with lawful orders. As he remained at sea, the case was heard in absentia. The court rejected the defense argument that the captain was awaiting instructions from the shipowner and that France lacked jurisdiction due to the vessel’s location in international waters.
The court sentenced the captain to one year of imprisonment and imposed a fine of approximately $170,000, issuing an arrest warrant. His legal team has indicated plans to appeal the decision.
The tanker, which has since been renamed Phoenix, continues to operate in the Russian oil trade. As of the latest reports, the vessel was sailing near Singapore en route to the Russian port of Kozmino.
