Russia prepares for potential shadow fleet influx to national flag
- Presidential decree would simplify Russian flagging rules, curb disclosure requirements and set quality thresholds for incoming tankers
- The shift would position Moscow to absorb parts of the shadow fleet long reliant on fraudulent or weak registries
- Move to insulate shadow fleet from sanctions comes amid ramped up seizures from EU and UK
Moscow has unveiled a draft decree to speed up ship registration and allow foreign‑owned tankers to reflag to Russia, signalling a shift toward direct control of the shadow fleet as Western sanctions and vessel seizures intensify
