Boracay

The 'Boracay' is an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia's 'shadow fleet,' a network of vessels allegedly used to circumvent sanctions. It gained recent notoriety when its Chinese captain, Chen Zhangjie, refused a French Navy inspection in 2025. This refusal led to a French court in Brest issuing an arrest warrant and a one-year prison sentence in absentia against Zhangjie, along with a €150,000 fine. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding energy supplies and the efforts to enforce sanctions against Russia. The case underscores the challenges in monitoring and controlling vessels potentially involved in illicit activities, particularly those operating within 'shadow fleets'. The French court's decision reflects the seriousness with which such violations are being treated.