Storm Boelo Exposes the Vulnerability of Aging Oil Tankers Off Ireland
On the afternoon of October 24th, while sailing 350 kilometres off the Irish west coast, the oil tanker Myra encountered hurricane-force winds during Storm Boelo. Nine-metre-high waves washed over the sides of the 228-metre vessel as 130km/h gusts battered the bridge, prompting a crew member to transmit an SOS at 12:38pm. An RAF Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft launched from Scotland in response, but crew members on the ship radioed that the distress call was a false alarm and continued south through the rough seas. The Irish Times reported that the vessel, which departed Russia a week earlier, is part of the so-called “shadow fleet” used to transport oil while evading international sanctions.
Shadow Fleet Vessels Transit Irish Waters Carrying Crude Oil
International Maritime Organisation records contradict the Cameroon flag registration claimed by the Myra, which is linked to a shipping company owned by the son of a senior Iranian regime figure. The vessel was empty when it crossed the Irish path, but Starboard Maritime Intelligence data shows that roughly half of the Russian tankers traversing the same route carry massive crude oil cargoes. Starboard Maritime Intelligence data shows that 218 shadow fleet vessels have passed through the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone this year, and Defence Forces figures mark this as a 193 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Defence Forces officials attribute this surge to British forces beginning to board shadow fleet vessels crossing the English Channel.
When then-UK prime minister Keir Starmer announced that British forces would begin boarding shadow fleet vessels in the Channel, tanker operators changed course. Royal Marine Commandos followed through on that threat in June by boarding the sanctioned tanker Smyrtos. Rather than risk similar enforcement in the narrow channel, captains diverted their voyages over the north of Scotland and past the west of Ireland. At this point, active enforcement in the channel became a real risk for the shadow fleet,
said Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin, a sanctions expert with the Royal United Services Institute in the UK. So we saw tankers, especially tankers with false flags, diverting from the channel and over the north of Scotland and west of Ireland.
Aging Shadow Fleet Tankers Accumulate Severe Inspection Deficiencies
Security officials across the European Union have repeatedly warned that aging shadow fleet tankers pose severe espionage and sabotage risks. Safety issues appeared on 156 of the 218 vessels that traveled through Irish-controlled waters this year, totaling 676 individual deficiencies recorded across the fleet during their most recent inspections.
Inspectors have previously detained 50 of those 218 vessels due to extreme safety violations. Fire safety hazards emerged on 71 ships, structural defects affected 22, and 28 exhibited pollution-control failures. The Myra itself accumulated 10 serious defects identified by inspectors in Australia, Belgium, Russia, and the US since 2020. Other vessels show even more alarming maintenance gaps. The White Condor 1 has avoided port authority inspections entirely since 2018, while the Beluga went uninspected since 2020 following water-tightness warnings. The US-sanctioned tanker Molly, linked to the Iranian regime, has never faced a recorded inspection.
Environmental Disaster Risks Facing the Irish Coastline
The average age of crude oil tankers globally sits at 14 years, according to maritime publication Lloyd’s List. Sanctioned vessels passing Ireland average 20 years of age, with the Zambra reaching 27 years old before entering the Irish EEZ in June. Chinese authorities briefly detained the Zambra in 2023 over fire safety and pollution-prevention failures. Many of these shadow fleet vessels should have been scrapped years ago,
Erausquin said. Instead, they were simply being purchased second-hand by Russia to continue their operations in sanctioned trades.
A single oil spill from these single-skinned vessels could devastate vulnerable marine ecosystems along the Wild Atlantic Way. A senior Irish Military Intelligence Service officer warned last April that an accident near the Aran Islands would release millions of tonnes of oil into waters where local forces lack containment capacity. Worldwide, shadow fleet vessels have been involved in more than 50 collisions and spills, including a recent incident where a tanker carrying 40 million gallons of Russian oil ran aground off Oman and contaminated miles of coastline.
Naval Constraints and Emerging Surveillance Measures
According to a Department of Transport spokeswoman, the Irish Coast Guard now deploys satellite data and newly acquired fixed-wing aircraft for anti-pollution monitoring. Officials are currently drafting a new maritime oil spill contingency plan to address rising shipping risks. Meanwhile, the Defence Forces equipped two new maritime surveillance aircraft with advanced sensors capable of detecting marine discharges.
Minister for Defence Helen McEntee announced new powers earlier this year permitting naval personnel to seize shadow fleet vessels by force. Crew shortages, however, restrict the Naval Service to deploying only one or two ships at sea simultaneously. Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews argued that the state must urgently address these capacity gaps to protect the coastline and meet international obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Shadow Fleet
Why are shadow fleet tankers traveling past the west of Ireland?
Vessels diverted their routes away from the English Channel after British forces began actively boarding sanctioned ships, choosing instead to pass through the storm-heavy waters of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone where enforcement capacity is limited.
What proportion of shadow fleet ships passing Ireland have documented safety defects?
The Irish Times analysis found that 72 per cent, or 156 of the 218 shadow vessels traveling through Irish-controlled waters this year, recorded safety issues during their most recent port inspections.
How old are the sanction-evading oil tankers using the Irish route?
Sanctioned vessels operating off the Irish coast have an average age of 20 years, significantly older than the global average crude oil tanker age of 14 years.
Frequently Inspected Tanker Deficiencies
| Safety Issue Category | Number of Vessels Affected |
|---|---|
| Fire Safety Deficiencies | 71 vessels |
| Pollution-Control Failings | 28 vessels |
| Structural Integrity Problems | 22 vessels |
The Defence Forces recorded a 193 per cent increase in shadow fleet activity within the Irish EEZ compared to the same period in 2025.
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