Mediterranean Tanker Interception Highlights France's New Plans

A new incident involving European naval forces and a large oil tanker has unfolded in the Mediterranean Sea. French authorities intercepted the tanker Deliver in international waters off the coast of Sicily in order to inspect its documentation and verify the legitimacy of its registration. The operation forms part of a broader European effort aimed at creating obstacles for the so-called Russian "shadow fleet,” which transports oil outside Western restrictions. The boarding operation took place on June 23. French naval personnel boarded the vessel under Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits inspections when authorities have grounds to question the authenticity of a vessel's documents.