Russian oil tanker remains safely anchored off Weymouth under government detention

A large oil tanker being held off the coast of Weymouth is being closely monitored by national and local agencies, with no current risk to residents, the environment or maritime safety.

The vessel, named MT SMYRTOS, has been anchored offshore since mid-June after being detained by the UK Government. Dorset Council is sharing this update based on information supplied by the lead organisation, the Department for Transport (DfT), to explain what is happening and what it means for local communities.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) took action to detain the vessel as part of wider efforts to disrupt so‑called ‘shadow fleet’ operations. These ships are linked to funding Russia’s war in Ukraine and operate outside standard safety and regulatory frameworks.

The tanker will remain at anchor off Weymouth unless circumstances change. It is being monitored around the clock to make sure it stays secure and stable.

There are currently 24 crew members on board from India and Georgia. The DfT are carrying out daily welfare checks, including ensuring access to food, water and other essential supplies. The owner of the vessel remains legally responsible for the crew and the upkeep of the ship.

Although the crew are not under arrest, they are subject to UK immigration requirements if they choose to come ashore. At this stage, no crew members have chosen to leave the vessel.

Following inspection, there are no reported environmental or safety concerns. Agencies including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are continuing to monitor the situation closely and would respond immediately to any incident, as they would in any maritime situation.

Although the DfT are the lead for this situation, the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) partners are working through established emergency planning arrangements to monitor any potential local impact and to make sure communities are kept informed.

As part of an investigation by the National Crime Agency, the Master of the vessel has been charged with offences related to breaching sanctions and has been remanded into custody in the UK. A Crown Court hearing is scheduled for 16 July at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Residents may also be aware of recent reports involving a Russian naval vessel in the Channel. National defence officials have confirmed this was an isolated incident and not linked to the detained tanker.

The LRF will continue to share updates if the situation changes