RAF responds to sanctioned oil tanker reportedly in distress off NI coast
The crew later said the alert was a false alarm as the tanker continued its voyage after contact with RAF and coast guard aircraft.
- On Saturday, the Russian-connected oil tanker Myra triggered a distress signal while sailing approximately 350 nautical miles off the Isle of Mull, prompting the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Royal Air Force to coordinate an emergency response.
- Subject to United Kingdom sanctions, the Myra was traveling from Russia's Baltic port of Ust-Luga toward Port Said in Egypt, with Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate linking the ship to Fractal Marine DMCC, a major shadow fleet operator.
- Facing severe weather with waves reaching 8.8 meters and wind gusts approaching 130 kilometers per hour, the tanker's crew activated the alert after leaving rough seas; however, the Royal Air Force determined it was a false alarm.
- Supporting the operation, the Irish Coast Guard sent an aircraft to monitor the tanker, stating it "continues to provide support to the UK Coastguard and continues to monitor the vessel's onward track."
- Investigations have previously identified similar vessels circumventing Western sanctions; UK authorities maintain legal powers to detain such ships, though the Myra remains flagged under Cameroon and is listed as "in ballast," meaning empty.
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EADaily, 25 October 2026, following from the port of Ust-Luga in Leningrad region, a tank vessel called Myra, which links Russian oil exports to circumvent sanctions, launched a distress signal in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, reporting a sea monitoring project in SeaNews.
Russia’s Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker Calls for Help Near Ireland
A Russian shadow fleet oil tanker under Western sanctions issued a distress signal in the North Atlantic, approximately 348 kilometers off Ireland’s coast, after encountering severe weather while traveling from Russia’s Baltic port of Ust-Luga.
There Was a Distress Call Off the Coast of Ireland From a Tank Vessel of the Shadow Fleet of Russia.
The ship was from the port of Ust-Lug of Leningrad province.
The RAF is reported involved in an emergency response after UK-sanctioned Russian-linked tanker Myra issued a distress alert while saling through severe
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