Investigative actions began on January 22 when the prosecutor's office opened a case regarding possible violations of the rules for using the national flag. Inspections are being carried out by the maritime gendarmerie in conjunction with the Ship Safety Center in Marseille.
The vessel was stopped in the Marseille-Fos area, where maritime and aerial exclusion zones have been established around it. French authorities emphasized that this is necessary for the safe continuation of the investigation.
The tanker GRINCH was intercepted on January 22 in international waters of the Alboran Sea, between Spain and the northern coast of Africa. The operation was conducted by the French Navy with the support of allies, including the United Kingdom. After inspection, the tanker was escorted to the shores of France.
On January 25, AFP published a video provided by the French Armed Forces General Staff, showing a group of military personnel landing on the tanker from a helicopter to conduct an inspection.
The investigation suggests that the tanker may have been using a false flag of the Comoros. It was previously reported that the vessel had changed flags multiple times over the past two years. French authorities note that such vessels are often used to circumvent sanctions and for covert transportation of petroleum products.
The tanker GRINCH is on the sanction lists of the UK, EU, and the US as a vessel linked to the Russian "shadow fleet." The vessel was built in 2004.
