Pushpa (ship)

Pushpa
History
Benin
Name
  • Boracay (current)
  • Kiwala
  • Pushpa
  • Varuna
  • Odysseus
  • P. Fos
  • Virgo Sun
  • Pacific Apollo
OwnerBaaj Shipping Ltd (since March 14, 2025)[1]
IdentificationIMO number: 9332810

Pushpa, also known as Boracay, Kiwala, Varuna, and P. Fos (IMO number: 9332810), is a crude oil tanker built in 2007. The ship claims to be sailing under the flag of Benin,[2] although the flag status is recorded as FALSE in the International Maritime Organization's database GISIS.[1] The vessel was first registered in March of 2007 with a gross tonnage of 59,164,[1] and is 244 meters long and 42 meters wide.[3]

Alleged to be a part of Russia's shadow fleet, the European Union, Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the UK have placed sanctions on the ship, according to OpenSanctions.[4] The United Nations have not placed any sanctions on the ship.[1]

Detention

In September 2025, the ship was suspected to have played a part in the launching of drones in Danish airspace, leading to delays and flight cancellations at Danish airports.[5]

On September 28, French authorities boarded the vessel.[6][7][8][9] Ambassador of Russia to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, has dismissed the possibility of Russian involvement in the drone incidents,[10] which are described as "hybrid attacks" by Danish authorities and prime minister Mette Frederiksen.[11]

On October 2, the tanker left a port in western France.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ship Particulars / IMO 9332810". Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). International Maritime Organization. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  2. ↑ "Suspicious Shadow Tanker is Again Being Investigated, This Time by France". The Maritime Executive. 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ↑ "BORACAY | Crude Oil Tanker, IMO 9332810". VesselFinder. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  4. ↑ "VARUNA". OpenSanctions. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  5. ↑ Møller, Peter (2025-09-25). "To skibe med russiske forbindelser var i flyveafstand fra alle drone-hændelser". TV 2 News. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  6. ↑ Møller, Peter; Ingemann, Frederikke; Koch, Thomas Østerlin; Søndberg, Astrid (2025-09-30). "Skib med mulig forbindelse til dronesagen efterforskes i Frankrig" [Ship with possible connection to the Drone Crisis is being investigated in France]. TV 2 News (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  7. ↑ Stargardter, Gabriel (2025-09-30). "France investigates suspected 'shadow fleet' oil tanker anchored off coast". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  8. ↑ "Les questions s'accumulent autour d'un pétrolier de la flotte fantôme russe immobilisé au large de Saint-Nazaire". Le Monde. AFP. 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  9. ↑ "Pétrolier fantôme russe au large de Saint-Nazaire: deux membres d'équipage en garde à vue, après l'intervention de militaires". Le Parisien. 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  10. ↑ Tidemann, Daniel (2025-09-23). "Ruslands ambassadør i Danmark: Vi har ikke noget med dronerne at gøre". Berlingske. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  11. ↑ Nielsen, Søren; Meesenburg, Ida (2025-09-25). "Mette Frederiksen om droner over Danmark: Det her er kun starten". dr.dk. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  12. ↑ Adomaitis, Nerijus (2025-10-03). "Suspected 'shadow fleet' tanker sets sail from western France". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
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