SECURITY SERVICES IN Ireland and Britain have monitored the first sailing of a Russian Shadow Fleet oil smuggler up the Irish Sea, The Journal has learned. 

The oil and chemical tanker, which is sailing under the false flag of an African country, was spotted entering the Irish Sea this weekend. 

It sailed north overnight, close to the east coast, and for a time came close to Dublin, before taking a turn to the east off the northern coast when a British Coastguard aircraft orbited around her.

She then continued on her voyage northwards and was last spotted off the Scottish Shetland Islands.  

It is believed other Irish and British security services were monitoring the ship during her passage also.

Sources have said they believe the ship is heading north towards Russia or to meet another vessel to be loaded with crude oil in an offshore transfer. 

In recent days and weeks there has been a heightened amount of similar activity off the west coast. The Shadow Fleet is a group of approximately 500 named vessels used by Russia to smuggle oil and gas in breach of sanctions. 

The ship tracked in the Irish Sea was using a different name to the one included in the sanctions and is apparently registered in Africa. However sanctions documents show that the vessel is in fact a Russian ship which was registered in that state in a different name. 

This is a tactic adopted by Russian organisations in an attempt to avoid the issues associated with sanctions. 

The Shadow Fleet has grown in size since the introduction of sanctions after the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. 

Security sources, both in Ireland and abroad, have said that states could use environmental protection provisions contained in the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in order to board such vessels but that has not materialised.

It is believed the ship in the Irish Sea was empty at the time of her transit. 

Just two weeks ago Ukrainian drone boats attacked tankers in the Black Sea – the ships involved were identified as Shadow Fleet vessels. It is not the first time Ukraine has struck Shadow Fleet tankers but it is a clear escalation.

A Super King Air 200 in HM Coastguard observed the ship. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Meanwhile in Britain today Defence Secretary John Healey announced the Atlantic Bastion plan to secure the seas around the country. This includes underwater sensors and new submarine capabilities as well as drone technology.

In response to our query about the Shadow Fleet ship the British Coastguard referred our query to their Department of Transport, which said in a statement:

“We do not comment on individual cases relating to the UK’s maritime security. The Government consistently monitors UK waters to uphold the safety of mariners, the marine environment and the UK’s national security.”

The Irish Defence Forces also did not confirm or deny it was involved in monitoring the ship. 

“The Defence Forces does not comment on specific operational matters, however Óglaigh na hÉireann continuously monitors Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) through Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO).

“MDSOs are conducted by Naval Service vessels who maintain a constant presence in our maritime domain and are supported by the Air Corps’ maritime patrol aircraft,” the statement said. 

The Defence Forces said it routinely patrols the Irish EEZ and when specific intelligence emerges it conducts specific operations “are executed as a standalone operation”. 

A spokesman said that this is done in conjunction with various agencies and “any relevant information gathered is shared with the appropriate national and international authorities”.