French Navy halts Cameroonian-flagged tanker Deliver under Yaoundé sanctions
The French Navy intercepted the tanker Deliver off the coast of Sicily after verifying it was operating under an illegally obtained Cameroonian flag and was subject to sanctions by Yaoundé. This follows similar operations against vessels Tagor and Smyrtos in early June in the English Channel.
Maritime enforcement escalates against illegal Cameroonian-flagged vessels
The French Navy’s latest interception of the tanker Deliver marks a significant escalation in efforts to curb the use of fraudulent Cameroonian flags by vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “ghost fleet.”
French authorities confirmed that the Deliver was operating under an illegally obtained Cameroonian flag, a tactic previously used by vessels Tagor and Smyrtos—both intercepted in the English Channel in early June. Investigations revealed discrepancies in the documentation, confirming suspicions of flag misuse.
Yaoundé sanctions target ghost fleet vessels
In response to these violations, the Cameroonian government imposed sanctions on the Deliver, stripping it of its flag and adding it to a growing list of vessels barred from Cameroonian registry. President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the vessel’s ties to Russia’s shadow fleet, stating “the Deliver is believed to belong to the Russian ghost fleet.”
In a statement, Macron highlighted the broader European commitment to disrupting these operations: “The interception of the Deliver, just days after a similar operation by the UK, underscores Europe’s resolve to prevent the ghost fleet from evading sanctions and financing Russia’s war effort.”
Cameroon’s Ministry of Transport has since revoked the flags of 39 vessels, citing the need for stricter oversight. Officials stated these measures aim to enhance physical inspections and digital tracking of registered vessels, safeguarding the integrity of Cameroon’s maritime registry.
International cooperation strengthens sanctions enforcement
The crackdown reflects growing international coordination to target vessels exploiting weak maritime registries to bypass sanctions. By stripping fraudulent flags and enforcing compliance, authorities seek to disrupt the logistical networks supporting Russia’s military operations.
