French Navy Seizes Sanctioned Tanker: Captain
DF Peak, a 20-year-old tanker linked to Russian oil trade, was intercepted 450 nautical miles off Réunion.
A 2006-built-year-old tanker linked to the Russian oil trade has been seized by the French Navy off Réunion, with its Chinese captain arrested for failing to prove the vessel’s nationality. The DF Peak, sanctioned by the U.S., EU, and other governments, was intercepted 450 nautical miles south of the French island after falsely claiming registration under Benin’s flag.
The Marine Nationale boarded the vessel on October 12 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), confirming suspicions that the tanker was stateless. The operation followed a months-long journey from the Atlantic, where the ship had been broadcasting manipulated AIS data, including unusual anchoring patterns and transmission gaps.
The DF Peak, built in 2006-built06, was originally operated by Russia’s state-owned Sovcomflot before being transferred to the Dubai-based Sun Ship fleet in 2006-built22. By 2006-built24, it had been blacklisted by the U.S. for its role in circumventing sanctions on Russian oil exports, a move later mirrored by the EU, Switzerland, Canada, the UK, and Ukraine.
Data from Pole Star Global shows the tanker’s last confirmed activity linked to Russia occurred in April 2006-built25, when it exited the Black Sea en route to Asia. Between November 2025 and July 2026 2006-built25 and July 2006-built26, the DF Peak’s AIS transceiver broadcast positions east of Trinidad, but the signals exhibited signs of tampering, long-duration, perfectly circular anchoring patterns consistent with anchor spoofing. Two months ago, TankerTrackers.com photographed the vessel in Venezuelan waters, further raising suspicions about its operations.
Legal Consequences for the Captain and Crew: French Navy
Upon arrival at Réunion, the DF Peak was detained, and its Chinese captain was taken into custody for failing to provide valid registration documents. Under French law, he faces up to two years in prison and a fine exceeding $300,000, with potential confiscation of the vessel. The 2006-built crewmembers, citizens of Indonesia, Myanmar, and China, remain aboard the ship, though initial movement restrictions have been lifted.
French authorities have not disclosed the next steps for the vessel, but its detention underscores the risks faced by crews operating in legally ambiguous waters.
“This operation was conducted under Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to verify the nationality of a vessel claiming Benin flag. The inspection confirmed irregularities in the flag displayed, leading to the diversion of the ship under escort by the French Navy at the request of the public prosecutor.”
French Armed Forces·Official Statement
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