The French Navy seized the DF PEAK tanker linked to Russian sanctions violations in the Indian Ocean, escalating maritime tensions.
The French Navy intervened with the oil tanker DF PEAK, which is alleged to be linked to a shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent sanctions, in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, flying the Benin flag, was reportedly stopped and inspected due to suspicions of using a false flag. While French authorities decided to redirect the tanker to Réunion Island, Russia described the operation as a violation of international law.
Stopped 450 nautical miles off the coast of the Indian Ocean.
According to a statement made by French President Emmanuel Macron on October 12, DF PEAK was stopped more than 450 nautical miles south of Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, on the same day.
Elements of the French Navy boarded the vessel with helicopter support to examine its documents and flag registration.
French military authorities reported that suspicions regarding the validity of the flag used by the tanker continued even after the inspection.
Prosecutor's office requested the vessel to be taken to Réunion.
Colonel Xavier Rival, spokesperson for the French Armed Forces, announced at a press conference on October 13 that the vessel was inspected due to suspicions regarding its flag registration.
Rival stated that the examinations did not eliminate the suspicions and that the vessel was redirected to Réunion Island for a more detailed inspection by decision of the prosecutor's office.
It was reported that the tanker, escorted by French military elements, was progressing towards the island as of October 13.
French authorities announced that the operation was conducted under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regarding the verification of the vessel's nationality.
Russia described the operation as piracy.
Russia's embassy in Paris reacted to the French authorities' intervention with DF PEAK.
In a statement reported by the Russian state news agency RIA, the embassy characterized the seizure of the vessel as piracy and claimed that international law was clearly violated.
The embassy also noted that France did not provide official notification to Russian authorities regarding the operation.
It was announced that an investigation was underway to determine whether there were Russian citizens among the crew of the vessel.
The tanker previously operated under the name KALININGRAD.
According to maritime records, DF PEAK previously carried the names KALININGRAD and NS CAPTAIN.
The tanker, with IMO number 9341067, was built in South Korea in 2006. The approximately 244-meter-long vessel has a carrying capacity of around 110,000 DWT.
Most recently reported to be operating under the Benin flag, the vessel was included in the sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union in 2024.
According to data from Reuters based on LSEG vessel tracking information, DF PEAK was detected off the coast of Madagascar at 04:29 GMT on October 12.
The last recorded port of call for the vessel was Guanta Port in Venezuela. It was reported that the tanker was partially loaded at the time of the intervention.
France continues operations against the shadow fleet.
Following the operation, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that his country would continue its fight against the shadow fleet.
Macron expressed that there were suspicions that DF PEAK was sailing under a false flag and was involved in illegal fuel transportation activities.
Recently, France has increased inspections of tankers that are believed to be linked to Russia and alleged to be used to circumvent sanctions.
The French Navy has also conducted similar operations in the Mediterranean and Atlantic within 2026.
The outcome of the investigation initiated following the intervention with DF PEAK and the final decision regarding the legal status of the vessel have not yet been announced.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
