An oil tanker under European Union sanctions for transporting Russian crude is being escorted to Morocco’s Tanger Med port by a Spanish maritime rescue vessel, Spain’s Merchant Marine confirmed on Tuesday.
The tanker, Chariot Tide—sailing under a Mozambique flag and formerly known as Marabella Sun until November—has been on the EU sanctions list since November 2024 for assisting Russia in exporting oil while engaging in “irregular and high-risk shipping practices.” The vessel has also been sanctioned by the United Kingdom.
According to Spain’s Merchant Marine, the tanker suffered an engine failure on January 22 and was left drifting without propulsion in international waters around 33 nautical miles south of Adra, in the Almeria region. The incident occurred within Spain’s designated search-and-rescue zone, prompting authorities to dispatch the maritime rescue vessel Clara Campoamor to escort the tanker to Tanger Med.
Spanish authorities did not explain why the sanctioned vessel was not seized. Spain’s Defence Ministry did not respond to requests for comment, while the Tanger Med port authority also declined immediate comment.
Industry sources estimate that between 1,200 and 1,600 tankers operate as part of a so-called “shadow fleet,” helping Russia and other sanctioned producers such as Iran and Venezuela bypass Western restrictions to sell oil, primarily to buyers in China and India. These vessels are often ageing, operate under opaque ownership structures, use multiple flags, and frequently lack internationally accepted insurance cover.
On Monday, countries bordering the Baltic and North Seas issued a joint warning highlighting the growing risks posed by such ships, citing practices including manipulation of identification systems, switching off tracking devices, and flag-hopping to evade detection and sanctions.
Morocco, a key US ally, maintains relatively strong relations with Russia. In October, the two countries signed a fisheries agreement allowing Russian vessels to operate in Morocco’s Atlantic waters.
