Russian Shadow Fleet Ships Change Routes After SMYRTOS Tanker Detention in the English Channel

Following the UK’s detention of the Russian shadow fleet tanker SMYRTOS in the English Channel, several other tankers transiting the strait have abruptly changed their routes.

The Insider reports on this.

In particular, the Cameroonian-flagged tanker LION I (IMO: 9384069), which was sailing through the Mediterranean Sea toward the Atlantic, changed course shortly before entering the English Channel and turned toward Ireland. The vessel is likely planning to bypass the British Isles via the North Atlantic.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, in 2025, LION I was used to export Russian oil and petroleum products from the port of Primorsk. Since May 2025, the owner and commercial operator of the tanker has been Seychelles-registered Kario Maritime Inc, and the technical manager is China’s Mo Chou Hu Shipmanagement Co. The vessel is subject to sanctions by the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and Ukraine.

The tanker’s destination is listed as FOR ORDERS (“await further orders”), making it impossible to determine its final destination.

Another tanker, C VIKING (IMO: 9261657) under the flag of Sierra Leone, also unexpectedly changed course in the North Atlantic and headed toward Ireland. As in the case of LION I, the destination is listed as FOR ORDERS.

C VIKING was used to transport Russian oil from Russian ports with its AIS system turned off and via ship-to-ship transshipment.

The vessel was also reported to have arrived at the port of Komysh-Burun in occupied Crimea. It is under sanctions by the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and New Zealand.

Another vessel that changed course was the tanker SONA (IMO: 9428358), also under the Sierra Leone flag. According to ship tracking services, it was sailing from the Gulf of Finland, likely from the port of Vistino, toward Port Said, but deviated from its route via the English Channel.

According to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, SONA has been involved in exporting Russian oil and petroleum products from ports in Russia’s Far East. The vessel is linked to the Indian company Galena Ship Management, affiliated with Gatik Ship Management, one of the largest operators of the Russian shadow fleet.

SONA is subject to sanctions by the UK, EU, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Ukraine and New Zealand. In addition, Ukraine imposed sanctions on the vessel’s captain in February 2026.

The tanker MAINI (IMO: 9319870) under the flag of Cameroon also changed its route. The vessel was sailing in the North Sea from Primorsk, with Port Said, Egypt, listed as its destination.

MAINI is involved in transporting Russian oil to evade sanctions and is linked to the Indian company Galena Ship Management and operator Gatik Ship Management. The vessel has been used to export Russian oil to third countries, including with its AIS system turned off. Greenpeace also describes MAINI as part of the Russian shadow fleet. The tanker is subject to sanctions by the UK, EU, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine.

At the same time, several vessels under US and EU sanctions that fly the Russian flag, rather than flags of third countries, continue to transit the English Channel without interference. They include the tanker KRASNOYARSK (IMO: 9312896) and the cargo ship ADLER (IMO: 9179854).

The UK has, for the first time, used powers granted by the government to intercept vessels of the Russian shadow fleet, approved on March 25, 2026.

The detained vessel was the Cameroon-flagged oil tanker SMYRTOS, which had departed from the port of Ust-Luga and was heading in an unknown direction.

The Royal Marines, together with officers from the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), executed the operation to seize the vessel.