Tanker Grinch captain taken into custody after French Navy escort

The captain of the tanker Grinch, which was escorted by the French Navy to the country’s southern coast over suspected discrepancies in its registration data, has been detained as part of a preliminary investigation, the Marseille prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

“On January 24, 2026, following the change of course of the tanker Grinch and its arrival at anchorage in the Gulf of Fos-sur-Mer, the vessel’s captain was handed over by the French Navy to the judicial authorities. At 22:45 (01:45 Baku time on January 25 – ed.), the 58-year-old Indian national was taken into custody as part of a preliminary investigation launched on January 22, 2026 by the Marseille prosecutor’s office,” the French supervisory authority said, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The captain is suspected of operating a vessel without a flag, which, under Article L5223-2 of France’s Transport Code, may be punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to €150,000. This article also allows for the confiscation of the vessel or other maritime equipment used to commit the offense. In addition, under Article 28 of the French law of December 17, 1926, if his guilt is proven, the ship’s captain may be barred from navigation in French territorial waters for up to three years.

“The purpose of the investigation is to verify the validity of the flag under which the oil tanker is sailing, as well as the documents required for its operation,” the prosecutor’s office stated. No timeframe for the investigation has been announced.

All other crew members are also Indian nationals and remain on board the vessel.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron reported that the French Navy had detained a tanker traveling from Russia in the Mediterranean Sea. As clarified by the maritime prefecture of the Mediterranean zone, during the inspection of the tanker Grinch discrepancies were identified in its registration data concerning its national affiliation, after which it was escorted to an anchorage, and the Marseille prosecutor’s office launched an investigation. The maritime prefecture also said that the vessel was “placed at the disposal of the Marseille prosecutor” for the preliminary investigation.

Around the anchorage site of the Grinch near the oil terminal of the Port of Marseille-Fos, “zones prohibited for navigation and flights” were established.