Law of the Sea comes to life in the hunt for sanctioned Russian oil
Summary
Countries sanctioning Russian oil have started using an international law called the Law of the Sea to board and inspect ships carrying Russian oil. This is part of efforts to stop Russia from selling oil through secret tankers that avoid sanctions and official rules.Key Facts
- President Donald Trump reversed a sanctions policy on Russian oil recently.
- Sanctioning countries use Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to board and inspect oil tankers.
- These inspections target the “shadow fleet” of Russian tankers not owned or insured by Western companies.
- The shadow fleet often breaks rules by turning off tracking devices, using fake flags, and transferring oil secretly.
- Western inspections have increased pressure on Russia’s oil export system since sanctions began in 2022.
- The US led the use of Article 110 in a 2023 operation seizing a Russian-owned tanker avoiding sanctions.
- Russia claims Western countries plan to block key sea routes to stop their shipping.
- The enforcement of these inspections marks a new use of international law to enforce economic sanctions.
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