French navy takes decisive action against sanctioned vessel

The French Navy intercepted the oil tanker Deliver on Tuesday, June 23, off the coast of Sicily, after verifying that it was flying a fraudulent Cameroonian flag. Documents examined by authorities confirmed suspicions regarding the vessel’s irregular flag registration.

The Deliver, operating under the Cameroonian flag, had already been sanctioned by Yaoundé following incidents involving other vessels like the Tagor and Smyrtos, which were intercepted in the English Channel earlier this month. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the Deliver is believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels used to circumvent international sanctions.

In a statement, Macron emphasized the urgency of these actions: “The French Navy intercepted the Deliver while it was violating maritime law off Sicily. This latest operation, following a similar move by the United Kingdom, demonstrates Europe’s commitment to halting the shadow fleet’s operations and preventing it from financing Russia’s war machine.”

Macron continued: “We will not allow the shadow fleet to bypass sanctions and fund Russia’s war efforts.” Over the past weeks, Cameroon’s Ministry of Transport has sanctioned and deregistered 39 vessels flying its flag, aiming to strengthen oversight through physical inspections and digitalization of records to safeguard the integrity of the Cameroonian maritime registry.

Yaoundé has framed these measures as essential to restoring trust in its maritime sector and ensuring compliance with international shipping regulations.

Stricter controls for Cameroon’s maritime sector

In response to the repeated use of its flag by vessels involved in sanction evasion, Cameroon has intensified its enforcement efforts. Authorities are now conducting comprehensive audits of vessels registered under its flag, digitizing records, and implementing stricter verification protocols to prevent fraudulent activities.

The crackdown reflects growing concerns over the misuse of flags of convenience, particularly in regions where geopolitical tensions have heightened the risk of sanctions circumvention.