Royal Marines have seized the oil tanker Smyrtos carrying $40 million (£30 million) in Russian crude to India, marking the first time British forces have detained a Russia-linked vessel as the UK braces for potential Kremlin retaliation. The vessel was intercepted in the small hours of Sunday on the orders of Prime Minister Keir Starmer as it sailed 25 miles south of the Isle of Wight. Its Indian captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with breaching UK sanctions on Russia and remanded into custody.
British officials believe Russia will try to retaliate for the seizure, prompting UK ship owners to exercise greater vigilance until tensions with Moscow ease. 'Seizing the Smyrtos was in the works for a long period. They had gone through the risks, and expectation is Russia will try to retaliate,' said a naval insider. 'If they do so, it could be globally. They are likely to take their time and pick their moment.'
Shadow Fleet and Sanctions Enforcement
The detention of the Smyrtos comes as the UK and Europe seek to put pressure on Moscow's shadow fleet of about 600 vessels, which are responsible for transporting half its crude oil exports — a key source of revenue to fund the continuing war in Ukraine. Shadow fleet vessels are often old, falsely or not legally flagged, operating at poor environmental and safety standards. The UK says it captured the Smyrtos, which had been monitored for several days, because it was falsely registered under the flag of Cameroon, and therefore legally stateless.
No formal warning has been issued to British captains and ship owners, but the UK Chamber of Shipping, which represents the industry, said there was an understanding that there could be the risk of Russian tit-for-tat action. 'We are aware of the increased risk and owners assess the risk for themselves,' said a spokesperson. 'From an industry perspective, a greater vigilance is more prevalent, given the events of the last few days.'
Heightened Tensions in the Channel
Tensions between London and Moscow have deepened as a result of the UK's support for Ukraine. On Tuesday, sailors on a Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots near a British yacht in the Channel. The pleasure boat, which was on its way to the French port of Cherbourg, had come close to the warship, though the couple on board said they had already taken evasive action when the shots were fired. The Ministry of Defence did not think the incident had been a retaliation, but it demonstrates heightened Russian nervousness.
The seizure of the Smyrtos echoes previous tit-for-tat disputes. In 2019, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps held the Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz for two months after Royal Marines had detained an Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1, in Gibraltar. That vessel too was released after a couple of months. However, the detention of the Smyrtos marks a significant escalation, being the first time British forces have seized a Russia-linked oil tanker.
Government and Industry Response
The Department for Transport, which is responsible for issuing security notices to ship owners, said it was in constant contact with the industry to provide the latest advice. It does not comment on the details of such advice, sources said. Military sources confirmed that the UK had considered possible responses to the seizure and anticipate that the Kremlin will want to hit back.
The operation represents a major escalation in offshore sanctions enforcement, signaling that the UK is willing to use military force to disrupt Russia's oil trade. With the shadow fleet accounting for half of Russia's crude exports, the seizure of the Smyrtos could mark the beginning of a more aggressive approach to cutting off Moscow's war funding.
