In a story that echoes today’s wider tensions over control of the North Atlantic and the waters around Ireland, this episode looks at the vessels linked to the so-called Russian Shadow Fleet.
Ireland supports EU sanctions and does not allow Russian shadow-fleet tankers into its ports, yet many still pass through our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by masking their identity or sailing under false flags. Operating off Ireland’s Atlantic coast and through the Celtic and Irish Seas, these vessels often enter our waters declaring themselves simply “For Orders” with no onward destination, loading port or discharge berth. Other shadow fleet vessels travel with their AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracking switched off entirely. Their constant presence highlights gaps in our enforcement capability and raises ongoing security and environmental concerns.
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SHADOW FLEET HISTORY
The Russian shadow fleet emerged after the 2022 G7 and EU price-cap sanctions on crude oil products without relying on Western companies. Estimates range from around 400 vessels to more than 1,500 when ships linked to Iran and Venezuela are included. On 10th January 2025, the United States sanctioned 183 Russian-controlled vessels, including 75 identified as part of this shadow fleet.
The shadow fleet routinely reflag, change names, switch off AIS, spoof positions and carry out ship-to-ship transfers to obscure ownership and the origin of the oil. Many tankers are old, lightly inspected and insured through questionable providers, raising the risk of breakdown or pollution. Some incidents have already occurred, including the stranded Peria tanker in the Bosphorus in January 2024.
RUSSIA IN THE CELTIC SEA
Russia staged a military exercise in the Celtic Sea from 3rd–8th February 2022, just three weeks before the invasion of Ukraine on 24th February. The location, two thousand miles from the planned invasion raised questions. It may have been a message to Europe, or a show of strength near Ireland who are a non-NATO state. Also the exercise zone lay over key transatlantic cables.
Irish fishermen objected as it was a prime fishing ground, raising their concerns at the Russian Embassy in Dublin. The Russian navy conceded and the exercise was then moved further south, still in international waters but within Ireland’s economic zone.
SHADOW FLEET VESSELS
Since the Russian exercise, vessels from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Canada and the USA have patrolled the Irish Sea, with some even calling into Dublin. But the Russians have returned too.
In November 2024, the Yantar, a known Russian spy ship, entered the Irish Sea and travelled as far as just south of the Isle of Man. For most of its passage the ship kept its Automatic Identifications System switched off, but briefly activated it at its northernmost point, as if to signal “we were here”.
The Yantar is described by Russia as an Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research vessel, but Western intelligence believes it is equipped for surveillance and possible sabotage. The 108-metre ship carries a crew of 60 and can map the seabed, deploy manned and unmanned submersibles, and has the capability to interfere with critical undersea infrastructure such as gas pipelines and communications cables.
The Irish Times reported that the Irish Naval Service vessel LÉ James Joyce, supported by Air Corps aircraft, shadowed the Russian ship as it moved through Irish-controlled waters. At the time, the Yantar was part of a three-ship flotilla that included the modern warship Admiral Golovko, capable of carrying hypersonic missiles.
VLADIMIR VIZE
The Vladimir Vize, an LNG tanker with ice breaking capability, left the Russian port of Sabetta in the Arctic North on January 16th and by Thursday 22nd was entering the Irish Sea. At the time, it was not declaring its destination, suggesting it could be operating as part of the “shadow fleet”.
ZARYA
On January 20th, the 293 metre Russian LNG tanker Zarya, sailing under the Russian flag, was under way and travelling northwards at 4.9 knots off the County Kerry coastline. While off Kerry, it was not declaring a clear destination, only listing the “East Atlantic,” which is vague at best. The vessel is now in the Barents Sea.
ARTIC VOSTOK
On Saturday 24th January, the Arctic Vostok, a 288 metre Russian Liquefied Natural Gas tanker currently subject to sanctions, was in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone heading south with its Automatic Identification System switched off. There are 1308 sanctioned tankers according to the Danish Maritime Authority – simply too many to track. At the time of writing on 28th January, MarineTraffic.com indicates that the vessel’s AIS now shows it as tied up in Port Said, Egypt.
GEORGIY USHAKOV
In June 2025, the Ukrainian Shipping Magazine reported that Russia had sent the Georgiy Ushakov LNG tanker along the Northern Sea Route, most likely bound for China. An LNG tanker (Liquefied Natural Gas tanker) is a specialised vessel built to carry natural gas that has been cooled to about -162°C (-260°F), turning it into liquid and reducing its volume by around 600 times for more efficient bulk transport. The tanker left the port of Sabetta and reached Kamchatka in just 10 days, escorted by the nuclear icebreaker Yamal. From there, the ship appeared to be continuing on to China. The full journey was expected to take 15–20 days, nearly half the time required via the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, or around Africa, which typically takes 40–45 days.
To give a sense of how complex the construction, flag, management and ownership of even one shadow fleet vessel can be, the 96,796 tonnes Georgiy Ushakov LNG tanker offers a good example. It was the fifth vessel in a six-ship order and was built in Okpo, South Korea, by DSME (now Hanwha Ocean) and delivered on November 6th 2019. It sails under the Bahamas flag, is owned by Seapeak LLC (TC LNG Explorer V LLC), managed by Teekay Shipping of Hamiliton, Bermuda and in June 2025 was operated by Seapeak Maritime Glasgow, Scotland.
And just last week, the 299 metre LNG tanker, usually operating on the North Arctic route, cruised down the Irish Sea into the Celtic Sea at 20.8 knots. While under way off the County Down coastline, the ship was behaving much like a shadow fleet vessel, declaring itself “For Orders” (F.O.) meaning no details were provided about its next destination, loading port or discharge berth. It was not until the tanker passed Wexford that it finally received instructions to sail to Cartagena in Spain.
DRONES BUZZ IRISH NAVY
There were further incidents possibly linked to the Russian Shadow Fleet during the visit of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to Ireland on December 2nd 2025. Five drones appeared along the flight path of the incoming presidential aircraft, but the flight landed early and avoided them.
That same day, the Irish naval patrol vessel William Butler Yeats left Dublin Port and switched off its own Automatic Identification System while heading up the Irish Sea. After missing the early arrival of the Ukrainian presidential aircraft, four of the military-spec quadcopter drones then approached the naval ship off Howth Head, coming within 500 metres and hovering around it for up to two hours.
The ship, did not fire on the drones, a decision supported by the government due to the risk of collateral damage from its 20mm cannons or 76mm main gun, given its proximity to the shore and nearby population centres. A shotgun might have helped deal with the drones, but would be unlikely to be carried on a modern naval vessel.
The drones appeared and vanished without trace, raising suspicions they may have launched from another vessel operating in dark mode. The episode was treated as a Russian-inspired probe aimed at testing Irish security during a high-profile visit. Ireland is due to assume the EU Council Presidency on July 1st 2026, this incident has placed extra focus on our maritime and airspace security.
If you have an idea for a story, please email Kevin Reid [email protected]
While Dennison Trailers kindly sponsors the website, all production costs, including editing software, Meta verification, music licences, data storage and travel are completely self-funded by Kevin Reid. All support for our work is greatly appreciated.
If you would like to make a gift donation, you can do so here: irelandmade.ie/#subscription
Sources of Information, Video & Photo Credits:
Britain to Ban Transport of Russian LNG on UK-linked Vessels – HIGH NORTH NEWS
Brookings website
Carlow Nationalist
Irish Echo Website
Naval News – Russian Navy Live Firing Off Irish Coast During Tensions In Europe
Postimees/Scanpix Baltics via Reuters Connect
PwC Response to Government Consultation on Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU – From Ambition to Delivery: Ireland’s 2026 EU Presidency Priorities
Research Gate
Teekay website
The Moscow Times
Ukrainian Shipping Magazine
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