An Irish security source said the number of shadow fleet vessels passing through the EEZ in recent days was “unprecedented”. Vessels carrying sanctioned Russian oil are increasingly opting to travel around Ireland instead of taking the quicker and safer route to the English Channel. However, the British government said shadow fleet vessels are effectively “stateless”, meaning they can be legally boarded and seized in international waters. The jump in shadow fleet traffic off the west coast has placed additional pressure on Defence Forces resources. Shadow fleet vessels are viewed as a threat to critical undersea infrastructure, including communication cables and energy interconnectors.

Source: The Irish Times April 04, 2026 12:32 UTC