MarineTraffic reports that the Boracay tanker, which is under Western sanctions for being suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet and also faces a separate French investigation, has left its anchorage off western France.

The raid by French Navy commandos on the weekend was the reason why the ship, which was headed southwest along the Bay of Biscay early Friday morning at cruise speed, was allowed to leave.

Requests for comments were not answered by either the local French maritime authorities or the Brest prosecutor’s office which is investigating the Benin flagged vessel due to its nationality.

Before its arrest, the Boracay had been destined for India’s Vadinar Port, which is home to a Nayara Energy Refinery. Could not determine if it was headed there. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that the ship had been detained in a European strategy against the oil revenue stream which helps fund Russia's efforts to wage war in Ukraine.

In an effort to avoid Western sanctions, Russia is increasingly using old vessels known as the "shadow fleet" to ship its oil.

Macron said that it was not clear whether the ship was involved in the drone incursions last week in Denmark, which closed Danish airports near the route of the ship from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. (Writing and editing by Barbara Lewis; Gabriel Stargardter)

(source: Reuters)