French marines swoop on former Sovcomflot tanker in the Indian Ocean

France has taken its crackdown on Russia’s shadow fleet into the Indian Ocean, boarding a former Sovcomflot aframax more than 450 nautical miles south of Réunion.

French marines descended by helicopter onto the 110,119 dwt DF Peak on Monday after authorities questioned the validity of its claimed Benin registration.

President Emmanuel Macron said the vessel was suspected of sailing under a false flag and involvement in illicit fuel transportation.

“France is determined to combat the shadow fleet, wherever it may be in the world,” Macron declared.

The French military said the boarding was conducted under Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits inspections of vessels suspected of lacking valid nationality. Checks of the ship’s documentation reinforced suspicions about its flag, prompting prosecutors to order its diversion under naval escort towards an anchorage off Réunion.

Built in 2006, the tanker previously traded as NS Captain for Russian state-controlled Sovcomflot before becoming Kaliningrad in 2024 and subsequently DF Peak. The vessel has been under EU sanctions since June 2024 and is also blacklisted by Washington and London. Ukrainian intelligence links the ship to Russian crude exports. Its latest registered owner is Hong Kong Ding Feng Shipping.

The operation follows several French interventions against Russia-linked tankers in European waters, including the interception of the Deliver off Sicily in June.

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