Drone activity - Off Saint Nazaire, France

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Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

30 September 2025, 0001hrs UTC

Location:

Off Saint Nazaire, France

Latitude/Longitude: 

47° 4' 6.00" N, 2° 49' 30.00" W

Vessel Name, Type, Flag and Status:

BORACAY, Crude Oil Tanker, Benin, Underway

Incident Type:

Drone activity

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

A tanker suspected of involvement in drone activity over Danish military bases and critical sites has been intercepted and boarded by French authorities. The vessel, reportedly linked to the 'Russian Shadow Fleet' and sanctioned by both the European Union and United States, was intercepted after transiting the Baltic Sea and waters around Denmark. This action follows a recent announcement by French authorities that the vessel was under investigation for 'serious offenses' against French and European security. The Tanker was anchored off Saint Nazaire, where French authorities conducted a search of the vessel. At least two crew members were detained; the tanker's Chinese captain, who had been due to appear in a French court in February over failing to comply with orders from the French navy, and it's first mate. The crew members are reportedly back on board the vessel, and it has resumed its journey. The vessel was reported off the coast of western France on Friday morning.

Response Actions

- Naval
- Military Response And Monitoring
- Other Authorities

Stolen Items

- None

Key findings

This incident represents a significant escalation in maritime law enforcement actions against vessels suspected of involvement in hostile intelligence gathering or potential hybrid warfare activities. The interception of a sanctioned vessel linked to the 'Russian Shadow Fleet' suggests increased vigilance and willingness to take direct action against ships potentially engaged in covert operations. The involvement of French authorities in boarding a vessel suspected of activities near Denmark indicates a high level of intelligence sharing and cooperation among European nations. The detention of crewmembers suggests that authorities have substantial evidence or suspicions beyond mere sanctions violations, possibly related to the alleged drone activities over sensitive sites.

Recommendations

- Vessels should maintain thorough documentation of all activities to avoid suspicion.

- Crews should be briefed on potential increased scrutiny and boarding procedures.

- Companies should conduct thorough due diligence to avoid association with sanctioned entities.

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