The Myra tanker, which departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region, sent a distress signal in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, according to reports. The vessel is associated with the export of Russian oil that bypasses Western sanctions, and its alert has drawn attention from authorities on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Reports indicate that the RAF was scrambled after the distress alert was sent from the tanker, which was reported to be operating off the British coast. Details of the nature of the emergency, including the condition of the ship and its crew, were not clear from the information available at the time of writing.
The Myra is one of a number of vessels that form part of what is often described as Russia's shadow fleet, a term used for ageing tankers that move oil outside the regular insurance and shipping frameworks favoured by Western buyers. Such vessels have increasingly been the subject of scrutiny by European governments concerned about maritime safety, environmental risk and the enforcement of sanctions.
Coverage of the incident by several outlets has highlighted the tanker's sanctioned-linked background and its route from Ust-Luga, one of Russia's major Baltic oil export terminals. Further information about the vessel's current position, its cargo and any assistance provided has been awaited, and the situation may develop as more official statements are released.