Europe's crackdown halves shadow fleet ships sailing under false flags, report says

A CREA report indicates that EU sanctions and detentions have forced 107 shadow vessels to reflag to Russia since January 2025, as open registries tighten oversight. This marks a notable shift in the shadow fleet's operational pattern, reducing their ability to evade sanctions. The development signals increased effectiveness of Western enforcement, though the remaining fleet continues to operate under other flags.