Russia sends convoy of sanctioned vessels to Tartus — Euronews
Four Russian vessels entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar on August 27. According to Euronews, a senior European military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus on Monday. This marked the return of the Russian Navy, of the aggressor state, to the Mediterranean Sea after a two-month break.
Composition of the convoy
The convoy, unofficially known as the “Syrian Express,” included the sanctioned cargo vessel Sparta and tanker General Skobelev, the supply vessel Akademik Pashin, and the destroyer Admiral Levchenko.
The “Syrian Express” is the unofficial name for Moscow’s maritime logistics network used to transport military supplies, weapons and equipment between Russian ports and Tartus. According to Euronews, sanctioned vessels, which are also linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, have often been involved in this network.
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Tracking the vessels
MarineTraffic data indicate that the vessels switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders before passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. This system transmits a vessel’s identification data, location, speed and course. According to the military source, “Syrian Express” ships have begun switching off AIS more frequently in recent months, and this practice has become almost systematic.
After being detected near Gibraltar, the Russian vessels were tracked in the central Mediterranean by the Italian frigate Carabiniere. The United Kingdom also deployed HMS Duncan, HMS St Albans and HMS Severn to monitor the convoy as it passed through the English Channel.
Tartus is Russia’s only naval base outside the former USSR and its only replenishment and maintenance facility in the Mediterranean Sea. In August, Syrian authorities reported an agreement with Moscow on Russia’s future presence at the bases in Tartus and Khmeimim.
