India clamps down on shadow fleet

India’s coast guard announced on Friday that it had detained three tankers about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai in what it described as a coordinated strike against an international oil‑smuggling network. 

“The syndicate exploited mid-sea transfers in international waters to move cheap oil from conflict-ridden regions to motor tankers, evading duties owed to coastal states,” the coast guard said. 

The vessels, which have changed names repeatedly, have since been escorted to Mumbai. The coast guard said the operation demonstrated India’s role as “a net provider of maritime security and guardian of the rules‑based international order.”

TankerTrackers.com identified the three ships as Al Jafzia, Asphalt Star and Stellar Ruby and said the vessels had been placed on US sanctions lists in 2025 for their dealings with Iran.

India’s decision to clamp down on shadow fleet tonnage comes as it deals with pressure from Washington to limit its buying of both Iranian and Russian oil, something that looks set to alter global tanker trading patterns. 

source : splash247