A French court sentenced the captain of the Boracay tanker to one year in prison and a $170,000 fine for disobeying military orders during a suspicious voyage.
A court in France sentenced the Chinese captain of a tanker ship, believed to be linked to a 'secret fleet,' to one year in prison and a fine of $170,000 for failing to comply with the instructions of a military inspection team.
Suspicious Voyage from the Baltic to the Danish Straits
Captain Chen Zhangjie, a 39-year-old Chinese national, was reported to have been commanding the tanker named Boracay during a voyage from the Baltic Sea in September 2025, which is said to have connections to Russia. There are suspicions that the tanker was used as a launch platform for drones that disrupted traffic at Copenhagen Airport and surrounding military facilities during its passage through the Danish Straits.
Intervention Off Brest
Based on intelligence suggesting possible connections to Russia's 'hybrid warfare' activities, French forces stopped the vessel, deemed 'stateless,' off the coast of Brest for flag verification. French military officials instructed the tanker to proceed at full power and prepare for boarding.
According to the prosecution, Captain Zhangjie did not comply with this order. Nevertheless, French teams boarded the vessel, took control, and directed the tanker to the port of Saint-Nazaire for inspection.
Russian Connections on Board
It was revealed that two Russian nationals, reportedly working for a security company linked to Russian intelligence, were on board the ship. However, it was noted that no further evidence regarding the drone-related allegations was shared with the public. After inspections, the tanker was released and allowed to continue its voyage.
Arrest Warrant from the Court
French prosecutors filed charges of 'disobedience to an order' against the captain for failing to comply with the stop order. Zhangjie, who is currently at sea and being tried in absentia, had his lawyer argue that his client was awaiting instructions from the ship owner and claimed that France had no jurisdiction as the incident occurred in international waters.
The court rejected this defense. In a ruling issued on Monday, the captain was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of $170,000, and an arrest warrant was issued for his detention.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
