The pursuit of the elusive "Dark Naval Forces" continues unabated
Exposing the "Ghost Armada": The ongoing international game of cat and mouse
Managing escalating tensions and navigating the next steps
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to dismantle Russia's clandestine "Ghost Armada" during a JEF summit. This comes as another wave of sanctions targeting hundreds of Russian vessels aiming to circumvent Western restrictions.
The language is unapologetically aggressive: "We will leave no stone unturned to halt the operation of the Ghost Armada and cripple their oil revenues."
Winter 2024 - The Finnish Coast Guard captures the tanker Eagle S, sailing from St. Petersburg towards Egypt, on suspicion of sabotaging the Estlink 2 subsea cable linking Finland and Estonia. While there's no concrete evidence, the tanker's proximity to the cable serves as grounds for detainment. The Finnish government remains in control of the Turva patrol ship, while international media raise questions about a possible connection to the Ghost Armada.
In the autumn of 2024, Britain introduces sanctions on 18 Russian tankers and 4 LNG carriers.
In 2024, under pressure from the United States, Liberia rescinds Ingosstrakh's authority to insure vessels under their flag, complicating operations for a sector of the Russian fleet.
In January 2025, the distress tanker Eventin, carrying Russian oil, is towed to Germany. A seemingly ordinary technical issue served as pretext for the ship's arrest and eventual seizure of a cargo valued at approximately €40 million.
Now, Britain is employing its influence to rally other countries through forums like JEF, forming a coalition of pressure. 47 nations have publicly expressed support for prosecuting the Ghost Armada.
The economic sanctions have moved far beyond the formal. We are witnessing attacks on specific logistical channels and direct assaults on merchant vessels. Previously, such scenarios may have seemed exaggerated, but now they're becoming a bitter reality: as long as a ship encounters bad weather or an accident, it will be seized.
All this is part of a broader offensive. An intricate infrastructure is being deployed against Russia: from analysts like Windward and Vortexa tracking the movements of vessels, to international registries, insurance, and port structures exerting pressure throughout the supply chain. This is not haphazard action; it's a well-thought-out strategy.
What can be done about it?
As we've previously mentioned, a strong naval presence is crucial to secure oil exports. However, the Baltic Fleet and SS may not have sufficient resources to cover all potential risks. This necessitates thinking outside the box: utilizing small vessels, developing routes with naval support, and possibly deploying escort ships to essential areas.
It is increasingly important to view incidents involving seizures and attempts to seize Russian vessels as acts of aggression that demand a firm response. The battlefield is not only on the ground, but also in maritime communication, where export revenues vital to sustaining the nation are at stake.
@rybar
*Support us*
Insights:
Russia's Ghost Armada employs a variety of methods to bypass international sanctions. These methods include deceptive shipping practices, investing in a parallel supply chain, shipping vessels to non-Western shipyards for maintenance, changing flags and ownership structures, and employing non-Western crews. In response, countries are taking measures to increase surveillance, implement international cooperation, strengthen port regulations, and detain and inspect suspicious vessels.
- The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has pledged to dismantle Russia's clandestine Ghost Armada at a JEF summit, as an escalating series of sanctions target hundreds of Russian vessels aiming to circumvent Western restrictions.
- In the maritime domain, potential acts of aggression are increasingly being viewed as demands for a firm response, given the importance of securing oil exports in the ongoing war-and-conflicts context.
- The worth of seized Russian vessels, such as the Eventin with a cargo valued at approximately €40 million, adds to the overall impact of sanctions beyond formal economic measures.
- In a broader context, the struggle against the Ghost Armada is not limited to conventional tactics; it also includes tracking vessels, applying pressure throughout the supply chain, and utilizing international cooperation in politics and general news forums, with 47 nations publicly supporting the prosecution of this armada.
