Italian Navy multi-purpose combat ship ITS Thaon di Revel (P430), Greek Navy frigate HS Kanaris (F464) and a Polish Navy M-28 B1R Bryza Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) intercepted sanctioned tanker MT Toa Payoh (IMO: 9298492) on Aug. 2, 2026. Italian Defense Ministry photo

The US Naval Institute News service reports on an interception of a “shadow tanker” by European naval units, but I have to say the measures taken don’t sound very effective.

“Toa Payoh was allowed to continue on its journey. EU sanctions only impose penalties – not seizures or arrests. Sanction penalties include asset freezes, travel bans and the prohibition to make funds and economic resources available to listed entities with sanctioned ships being barred from entering EU ports. Toa Payoh is also sanctioned by Canada, Switzerland, the U.K. and Ukraine. France, as well as Belgium and the U.K., have adopted a different approach to intercepting sanctioned ships, opting to seize and divert the ships to their national ports for inspections and fines.”