The Smyrtos affair: An Indian captain caught in Britain's crackdown

On 16 June 2026, the British Royal Marines boarded an oil tanker named the Symrtos in the English Channel. The ship was suspected of moving 98,000 tonnes of sanctioned Russian oil. The vessel was seized, and her captain, Ajay Pant, was arrested. The Royal Marines boarded it because they suspected the Smyrtos was stateless, and it is illegal to sail a stateless vessel.

There were 24 other sailors on board, and all were either Georgian or Indian. Pant is an Indian citizen, and he was remanded in custody to await trial in the United Kingdom. It is thought the Smyrtos was en route from Russia to India when it was boarded. The Prime Minister of the UK stated that he personally ordered the action.

The PM at the time was Sir Keir Starmer, who was a very distinguished barrister before entering politics and therefore notoriously pedantic in legal matters. Therefore, it is highly probable that the act was lawful. Other European countries have been more audacious in detaining vessels suspected to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet. The 700 or so vessels keep money flowing to Russia, and this funds its war in Ukraine.

The boarding of the Smyrtos came just after a Russian warship had fired flares and warning shots near a British yacht in the English Channel.

The Smyrtos is owned by a Chinese company. The ship was sanctioned by the European Union and the UK for being part of Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers without valid insurance. The EU and USA control the great majority of the world’s maritime insurance. To get shipping insurance but not from a sanctioning country requires paying a far higher premium.

The oil tanker flew a Cameroonian Flag. The United Kingdom alleges that the ship did not have the right to fly this flag: it had lost this right on 10 June at the latest. The ship had been registered in Cameroon, but this arrangement had expired by June 2026. Cameroon is a popular country to register a ship with because of low fees and lax regulations.

Pant, 38, is presumed to be innocent until and unless he is found guilty. He is therefore allowed to wear his own clothes and is not to wear prison uniform. He said he has no complaints about his medical care, and his food is in line with his religious requirements. He has been provided with lawyers funded by the UK Government. Indian diplomats have been allowed consular access to him. Pant pleaded not guilty.

The ship was seized in international waters. The United Kingdom states it has the right under the international law of the sea to seize vessels suspected of using a false flag.

India has not sanctioned Russia. From an Indian point of view, there is no crime in trading with Russia. India is not happy that Ajay Pant has spent months in jail awaiting trial. The UK noted that Britishers have awaited trial in Indian jails for years.

Pant’s trial is to start on 15 December. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. His ship is still anchored off the UK, but most of the sailors have been allowed to return to their countries. Mrs Pant is seeking a UK visa to visit her husband as he awaits trial in prison.

The seizure of the Smyrtos caused other shadow fleet vessels to give the UK a wide berth.