French Court Sentences Chinese Shadow Fleet Tanker Captain

Credit: Getty Images

A French court has sentenced the Chinese captain of a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker to one year in prison and issued an international arrest warrant after he refused to stop his vessel for a naval inspection off western France, Splash247 reports. The ruling marks a major escalation in Europe’s enforcement campaign against ships suspected of moving Russian crude outside Western sanctions frameworks.

Captain Chen Zhangjie, 39, received the sentence in absentia after failing to appear before a court in Brest. The case relates to his refusal in September 2025 to comply with orders from the French navy to halt the tanker Boracay for a flag-verification boarding in international waters. The court also imposed a €150,000 fine.

At the time of the encounter, the tanker sailed without a visible national flag and raised suspicion of transporting Russian crude to India. About an hour after being hailed by French forces, the crew hoisted a Benin flag, although authorities in Benin had already confirmed the vessel was not registered there. During questioning earlier in custody, the captain explained the delay by saying the crew avoided raising a flag in rainy conditions.

French personnel proceeded with the boarding and diverted the tanker to Saint-Nazaire for inspection. Investigators found two employees of a Russian private security company on board, reportedly present to represent Russian interests and collect information. The vessel has also been linked to unexplained drone activity near Copenhagen Airport and nearby Danish military sites during its earlier transit through the Danish Straits, though no official connection has been confirmed.

The tanker now sails under the name Phoenix and flies the Russian flag. At the time of the verdict, it was transiting the Strait of Malacca on a voyage toward the Russian oil port of Kozmino. The captain’s lawyer challenged the ruling and plans to appeal, arguing that France lacked jurisdiction because the boarding took place in international waters.

Global News

Related Maritime News

containership Safeen Prestige Strait of Hormuz

Missile-hit containership Safeen Prestige confirmed lost in Strait of Hormuz escalation

The containership Safeen Prestige has reportedly sunk in the Strait of Hormuz after a missile strike triggered a severe onboard fire, according to The Maritime Telegraph. A safety warning issued by NAVAREA IX on April 1 confirmed the vessel’s loss, marking the first reported total ship loss linked to the current security escalation affecting commercial shipping in the region.

Chinese Captain Fined $560,000 After Taiwan Subsea Cable Damage Case

A Taiwanese court has ordered a Chinese captain to pay about $560,000 to Chunghwa Telecom after his vessel damaged the Tai-Peng No. 3 subsea cable in the Taiwan Strait, NextShip reports. The ruling follows a three-year prison sentence issued in June 2025, underlining Taiwan’s tougher enforcement measures to protect critical offshore communications infrastructure.

Over 200 Passengers Evacuated After Night Collision Near Amsterdam

More than 200 passengers were evacuated after the river cruise ship A‑Rosa Sena struck the Amsterdamsebrug on the outskirts of Amsterdam late Wednesday, The Maritime Telegraph reported, citing local media. The helmsman suffered minor injuries, while passengers remained unharmed.

Libya Launches Operation to Secure Drifting LNG Carrier Arctic Metagaz

Libya has initiated an emergency maritime response to secure the damaged LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz, which continues drifting in the Mediterranean and poses rising environmental and navigation risks, according to NextShip. The country’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) is coordinating recovery efforts with international specialists and national authorities to stabilize the vessel and prepare it for towing to a safe port.

China Floats Out Second Homegrown Cruise Ship Adora Flora City

China has reached another milestone in cruise ship construction after floating out its second domestically built large cruise vessel, Adora Flora City, The Maritime Telegraph reports. The ship will undergo sea trials in late May and is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026, with Guangzhou planned as its homeport.

HD Hyundai Lands $553M Feeder Containership Deal with HMM

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured a contract worth about $553 million to build ten 2,800 TEU feeder containerships connected to fleet development plans by HMM, according to The Maritime Telegraph.