Overview

• French naval forces boarded the tanker near Saint-Nazaire, detained the captain and first officer, then charged the captain while releasing his deputy earlier.
• Both officers have returned to the vessel, which has set course toward the Suez Canal, with a Brest court date for the captain scheduled for February 26, 2026.
• The Boracay is listed under EU and UK sanctions as part of a suspected Russian shadow fleet and has a disputed registry history, including prior names and unconfirmed flag claims.
• French prosecutors opened a case over failure to prove nationality of the ship and refusal to comply with authorities, and a broader investigation into documentation and registration remains active.
• President Emmanuel Macron announced staff-level coordination with NATO partners on countering the shadow fleet, while President Vladimir Putin decried the boarding as piracy and denied any military cargo or confirmed Russian ownership ties.