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Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Number of Russian ‘shadow ships' in Irish-controlled waters rises dramatically
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of sanctioned Russian ships, known as shadow fleet vessels, sailing through Irish-controlled waters, an Irish Times investigation has found. Nineteen of these vessels have been tracked passing through, or just outside, the Irish Economic Zone (EEZ) since May. Many of the ships have exhibited unusual behaviour such as taking economically inefficient routes or sailing well outside recognised shipping lanes. The trend has caused the Defence Forces and Department of Transport to step up monitoring of these vessels as they pass Ireland on foot of environmental and national security concerns. Russia was hit with broad-ranging sanctions following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, it has increasingly relied on the shadow fleet to smuggle oil and natural gas to valuable markets in the global south. READ MORE A shadow fleet vessel is generally defined as a ship engaged in deceptive practices to transport sanctioned oil or other cargos. In many cases, the ships are registered in small, improvised countries which lack the means and will to enforce maritime law. The ships are often old and in poor condition, raising significant environmental concerns. Of the 19 ships tracked near Ireland since May, 18 were crude oil tankers. Twelve of the ships were carrying full loads of crude oil at the time. Twelve are subject to European Union sanctions with the remainder subject to US or UK sanctions. Previously, the number of Russian ships in Irish controlled waters was more sporadic, usually amounting to a handful a month. [ Sanctioned Russian ship intercepted by Coast Guard after docking in Louth Opens in new window ] Some ships have caused particular alarm due to their strange behaviour. For example, in recent weeks the Sierra and Marathon tankers left a Russian port on the Baltic Sea with full loads of oil for destinations in India. Instead of sailing through the English Channel, a quicker, safer and less expensive option, they opted to travel around the top of Ireland and into the North Atlantic. 'Vessels don't take longer routes, especially those that include the North Atlantic, unless there's a reason,' said Mark Douglas, a maritime domain analyst with Starboard Maritime Intelligence and a former New Zealand royal navy officer. 'The important thing about all of this is, I don't know why this is happening and no one else does either,' he said. One possible explanation is the UK has stepped up the monitoring of shadow fleet vessels in the English Channel. UK officials are now challenging by radio an average of 40 shadow vessels every month off the British coast as part of a joint campaign with a group of EU countries to tackle Russian sanction busting. Some of the oil tankers also appear to be avoiding designated areas which require them to reveal their cargos to authorities. Officials are concerned about the environmental risks posed by these ships, which are often crewed by overworked and inexperienced crews. The clean-up costs for an oil spill from a single shadow fleet tanker could be nearly €750 million, according to recent estimates from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. There is also concern about the risk to Irish undersea cables from either deliberate or accidental damage by the ships' anchors. There have been several such incidents in European waters in recent years. The Air Corps and Naval Service have stepped up their monitoring of these vessels, despite their limited resources. Last week alone, an Air Corps C295 was deployed at least twice to track sanctioned vessels as they sailed through the EEZ. In addition, the Irish Coast Guard 'has instituted specific measures to monitor the presence of these vessels and passage through and out of Irish EEZ,' the Department of Transport said. It said the coast guard is specifically concerned about the increased possibility of maritime casualty incidents 'from such vessels'.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Defence Forces experts train Nato militaries to counter homemade bomb threats
Ireland's Defence Forces hosted a Nato workshop this week on countering the threat posed to militaries and civilians from homemade explosives. Bomb experts from Australia and New Zealand joined major Nato countries, such as US, Canada, UK, France, and Germany, at the Ordnance School in the Curragh. A total of 43 participants from 10 countries took part, including Nato partners and non-Nato partners. In a statement, the Defence Forces said the fact that Ireland held the third Nato Home-made Explosives Workshop was 'a positive reflection on the technical expertise of the Ordnance Corp personnel'. It said this corp has performed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Counter Improvised Explosive (CIED) tasks during operational deployments. 'This workshop is an opportunity to share knowledge and enhance learning in the area of homemade explosives to meet current and future security challenges that will compliment already existing countermeasures to defeat the asymmetric threat posed by homemade explosives,' it said. The workshop covered the identification and safe disposal of homemade devices and the co-ordination of military and civilian law enforcement agencies, including in the area of counter-terrorism and the protection of troops and civilians. Lieutenant Colonel Conor King General Secretary of RACO, the officers' association, said: 'The Irish Defence Forces Ordnance Corps is internationally renowned as a leader in EOD and CIED, as well as other asymmetric counter measures, from marauding terrorist attack to homemade explosives.' He said the Ordnance School in the Defence Forces Training College has attracted experts from defence, law enforcement, and the scientific community from all over the world for many years. 'The skill sets within the DF Ordnance Corps takes many years of training, education and operational experience to cultivate. We must make every effort to retain these specialists.'
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Harris holds calls over Unifil mandate
Ireland remains committed to renewing the Unifil mission, the Tánaiste has said. Simon Harris held discussions with EU and UN counterparts on Friday in a bid to secure a continuation of the mission ahead of the renewal of its mandate at the end of August. Advertisement He held separate calls with UN Under Secretary General for peace operations Jean Pierre LaCroix, foreign minister of Italy, Antonio Taranji, and foreign minister of Lebanon, Youssef Raggi. Speaking afterwards, the Tánaiste said: 'Since 1978, participation in Unifil has been a key demonstration of Ireland's commitment to international peacekeeping. 'I remain exceptionally proud of the Defence Forces members serving in Unifil and the contribution they make every day. 'It is clear to me, including through my visit in March this year, that Unifil continues to play a vital role in ensuring stability and security. Advertisement He added: 'Ireland remains committed to supporting peace and stability in Lebanon, including through the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the renewal of Unifil's mandate in the coming weeks.' In the call with Mr Rajji, Mr Harris also discussed the ongoing trial of those accused of killing Private Sean Rooney in Lebanon in December 2022. He said: 'I underscored the importance of ensuring accountability and justice in this case for the family of Private Rooney, the Government and people of Ireland.' Mr Harris will hold further talks on the matter, including with the French foreign minister, who is leading the bid to secure the renewal of the mandate. Advertisement Poland has also said it believes the mission must continue for the stability and security of the region. Mr Harris told Cabinet this week that the Unifil mission is vital for retention and morale of Irish troops, as well as Ireland's 'unwavering commitment to international peace and security'.
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Veterans brave blazing heat for National Day of Commemoration at RHK
'We've all lost someone, either at home or on overseas service, so it's important that we remember them on a daily basis, not just once a year,' says Paul Fagan. Sitting in the back row in the sun-soaked courtyard of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Military Road in Dublin, Mr Fagan sits beside three other veterans in decorated uniform. All four served from Post 11 at the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare, he says. Their missions abroad over the decades included time spent in Lebanon, Kosovo, Liberia and the Congo. They were among about 1,000 people to attend the annual National Day of Commemoration ceremony on Sunday. At the other end of the courtyard, queues formed for a cold water and SPF station before the ceremony to honour Irish men and women who died in past wars or on peacekeeping missions abroad. READ MORE 'We attend it every year – we try and get out to as many functions as we possibly can,' the 63-year-old, originally from Co Waterford, says, adding that those who have lost their lives 'served their country with pride and distinction'. 'We're here to represent them because they can't be here.' The deaths of friends throughout his service, he says, 'never leave you'. Sitting beside him is Joe Guidera, who joined the Defence Forces in 1960 and served until 1998 before working as a clerical officer for a further 13 years. Tom Sheedy (83), Tony O'Reilly (71), Joe Guidera (80) and Paul Fagan (63) He notes that he went to the Congo as a teenager. 'We learned a lot. We went out as schoolkids and came back as men,' he says. Pointing to a man in the distance, with whom the 80-year-old served in Cyprus and who he has not seen for years, he says the ceremony 'means everything to me'. 'It's a great opportunity to come back and meet the lads,' he says, adding: 'I met a guy the last time I was here and I hadn't seen him for 40 years.' The ceremony, attended by President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and several members of Government, was one of several held across the country. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said it was an opportunity to commemorate and thank those who have served the country over the years. In particular, he said, he was thinking of peacekeepers currently based in Lebanon under the Unifil mandate. Noting that there will be a 'big moment of decision' in August when the mandate's renewal is up for consideration by the UN Security Council, Mr Harris said the people of Lebanon need peacekeepers 'now more than ever'. [ Ireland issues formal protest letter to Israel over shots fired towards Unifil unit in Lebanon Opens in new window ] 'We're living in extraordinarily uncertain times,' he said, adding that he is beginning an Irish diplomatic campaign to try to 'build alliances' to ensure the mandate can be renewed. 'So while we're here today commemorating, I'm thinking of the diplomatic battles ahead to try and make sure Irish peacekeepers continue to serve in Lebanon,' he said.
Bangkok Post
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Thai defence chief suggests ways to ease border tensions with Cambodia
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Songwit Noonpakdee has urged Cambodia to coordinate border operation hours and withdraw long-range weapons to facilitate cross border trade and ease tensions between the two countries. He has called for a reduction in military presence along the Thai-Cambodian border and proposed the withdrawal of long-range weaponry to levels consistent with those in 2024. He reiterated that Thailand has never closed its border checkpoints, but merely r egulated their operating hours. He further suggested that both countries should synchronise their checkpoint opening times to facilitate cross-border trade and ease the movement of people. Genl Songwit said that last Friday, Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the 2nd Army Region, informed him that military-level dialogue and cooperation had significantly increased. This includes joint border patrols being conducted three times a week, a development that Thailand supports. He said Thailand's position remains steadfast on the following principles: preservation of national sovereignty, which has been consistently upheld in accordance with Thailand's operational maps, and continued bilateral dialogue through established mechanisms including the Regional Border Committee (RBC), the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), and the General Border Committee (GBC). The desired outcome of these discussions, General Songwit said, is to de-escalate military confrontations along the border. In particular, he called for a return to pre-existing force levels and the removal of long-range weapons, emphasising that military presence should be proportionate and limited to ensure the safety of civilians in both countries. He also expressed a desire to see greater facilitation of cross-border trade and movement, confirming that Thailand has not closed any checkpoints. He clarified that Thailand currently operates its border crossings from 8am to 4pm, whereas Cambodia has opted to close many of its border points. As such, he proposed that both nations agree to standardised checkpoint operating hours—from 8am to 6pm—to allow smoother traffic and mobility across the border. Scam networks Gen Songwit also addressed the issue of transnational scam networks, saying that a recent tripartite meeting was held in Myanmar, involving representatives from Thailand, China, and Myanmar. The meeting concluded with a consensus to continue operations to dismantle call centre scam syndicates, as significant numbers of individuals remain involved in these criminal enterprises. To date, over 8,000 individuals have been repatriated, yet estimates suggest the original target number may be as high as 50,000. In the area opposite Mae Sot District in Myawaddy, Myanmar, Chinese authorities estimate that approximately 50,000 people are to be processed and returned. Several business operators in Myanmar connected to these scam networks have already been forced to cease operations under local legal orders. Some of these operators also face international arrest warrants. As Myanmar continues to face increased pressure through disruptions to electricity, internet, and fuel supplies, scam operations have started relocating, particularly towards the eastern regions. Thailand's Task Force 88 has consequently intensified its operations in those areas. Arrest warrants have already been issued, and cooperation has been sought from both domestic and international authorities, including neighbouring countries. Thailand plans to establish a multinational special task force this month to directly address the issue of scam syndicates. Task Force 88 will be responsible for providing further operational details.
