Captain of Russian shadow fleet tanker seized by British troops appears in court

Captain of Russian shadow fleet tanker seized by British troops appears in court The captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel seized by British troops in the English Channel on Sunday has appeared in court The captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel seized by British troops in the English Channel has appeared in court charged with breaching sanctions. The MV Smyrtos, which was carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil, was intercepted by Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) early on Sunday in the first UK-led operation to capture a sanctioned vessel. Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national, has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Pant appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court by video-link from Bournemouth police station on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing, during which he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and gave his address as being in India. He also gave no indication of his plea and his solicitor James Diamond requested the case be sent to the crown court. District Judge David Robinson, who appeared on the video link from Portsmouth, sent the case for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on July 16 and remanded Pant in custody until then. The court heard that the oil tanker was part of Russia’s "clandestine fleet of 700 ships" which acted as its "lifeline" by transporting 75 per cent of its oil and helping fund the war against Ukraine. The MV Smyrtos has been formally prevented from leaving the UK. The 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, remain on board the ship, which is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset. Joanne Jakymec, chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "The CPS has decided to prosecute Ajay Pant for breaching Russian sanctions following a National Crime Agency investigation and the seizure of the shadow oil tanker, MV Smyrtos, travelling through the English Channel over the last weekend." Mr Diamond said: "Without any indication of potential sentence, given the severity of the matter, I would submit the crown court would be the appropriate venue." Varun Chuni, prosecuting, said: "The Crown says this is a matter that should be sent to the crown court, there are no sentencing guidelines, the offence carries a maximum punishment of 10 years." He added: "On the morning of June 14, Royal Marines and the National Crime Agency boarded the oil tanker MV Smyrtos, that vessel had entered UK territorial waters without a legitimate flag. "The MV Smyrtos is an oil tanker that is utilised by the Russian shadow fleet, the shadow fleet is a description given to the clandestine fleet of tankers that Russia used to transport its oil around the world. "They operate under a flag of convenience, the genuine owners of those tankers are very difficult to trace. "In order to deceive law enforcement, they turn off tracking transponders and they regularly change flags and broadcast false locations." He said that the MV Smyrtos was designated under UK sanctions on Russia in 2025, which "were introduced to place pressure on Russia and its economy". He said: "It’s known it was in Russia on June 5, 2026, and departed Russian territorial waters. "Its movements were monitored, it then entered UK territorial waters, east of Margate, on June 13, flying the flag of Cameroon. "The master of that vessel has been identified as the defendant. He is an Indian national and he was arrested on the evening of June 14 and is currently in custody. "He’s suspected to be master of that vessel, essentially in charge of it. The amount of oil being carried is substantial, it is thought to be 98,000 tonnes of oil, clearly that is a significant amount. "As to its value, it’s uncontroversial to say it’s of very significant value." Mr Chuni added: "This is clearly a matter of great national interest, international interest as well, the shadow fleet is a significant matter." He said that the MV Smyrtos was one of 700 ships used by Russia as part of its shadow fleet that transports 75 per cent of its oil and added: "It’s an essential, critical lifeline for the country. The money generated from that shadow fleet is being used to fund Russia’s war in Ukraine." Mr Diamond said that his client, who had no previous convictions in any country, was only an employee of the vessel’s owner and was "simply following orders". He said: "The defendant is very clear, it was not his choice where this vessel was going, it was not his choice what this vessel was going to be carrying, he was simply following orders from those within the country." He added: "The defendant is not a Russian national or has received any money or benefits from Russia, he is simply an employee doing his job and finding himself before a British court." Remanding Pant in custody, District Judge Robinson said: "Having considered these matters, I do think because of the nature and seriousness of the offences you are charged with and the likely penalty if you are convicted, there are substantial grounds to fear that you could abscond. "You will therefore be remanded in custody until your next hearing in the crown court." The defendant gave his address in court as Virdeep, Shiv Vihar Colony, Near Power House, Chilkiya, Ramnagar, Nainital, which is north-east of Delhi.