Russian ‘shadow fleet’ captain in court

The captain of a Russian vessel that was intercepted in the Channel carrying 98,000 tonnes of sanction busting oil has appeared in court. Ajay Pant, 38, was commanding the MT Smyrnos, part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’. Pant has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Wearing a grey tracksuit…