DF Peak master arrested at Réunion as the Netherlands tables powers to detain stateless tankers

French authorities have arrested the Chinese master of the tanker DF Peak after finding that the ship had no valid flag-state registration. The tanker, which claimed the Benin flag, was boarded by the French Navy for a flag verification about 450 nautical miles south of Réunion, escorted to the island and is anchored off Saint-Denis. Our report on the boarding has the background.

The master was arrested for failing to prove the ship's nationality. If convicted he faces up to two years in prison and a fine of more than $300,000, and the tanker could be confiscated. The 20 crew, from Indonesia, Myanmar and China, remain on board, and restrictions on their movement have been lifted. French army spokesperson Colonel Xavier Rival said the ship was taken to Réunion "by decision of the public prosecutor".

What is known about DF Peak?

The 2006-built tanker, formerly named Kaliningrad, was once operated by Sovcomflot before passing to Dubai-based entities; she is now owned by Hong Kong-based companies, with Zheng Xin Marine listed as manager. She is under US, EU, UK, Canadian, Swiss and Ukrainian sanctions. Her AIS track showed transmission gaps and signs of anchor spoofing. She was photographed in Venezuelan waters about two months before the boarding, listed Guanta as her previous port and was last seen partially loaded off Madagascar on 12 October. She is at least the fifth Russia-linked tanker France has seized since 2024. Russia's embassy in France called the seizure "piracy".

What would the Dutch bill change?

The Dutch government sent parliament Bill 37038 on 9 October, amending the Foreign Ships Act as part of measures against the Russian shadow fleet. Authorities would be able to investigate a ship's nationality and, in specified circumstances, board and detain stateless ships. A ship using a false flag in the Dutch exclusive economic zone could be directed to an anchorage or port for inspection and held until its nationality and right to fly a flag are established, its deficiencies corrected and enforcement costs paid, which would in principle fall on the operator.

Masters of ships without nationality would face up to four years in prison, and the maximum sentence for knowingly flying the Dutch flag without authorisation would rise from one year to four. The infrastructure minister would gain powers, in exceptional cases, to deny foreign or stateless ships access to Dutch ports or close part of the territorial sea. The bill was revised after the Council of State questioned in August whether detention in the EEZ complied with UNCLOS, and now limits such action to powers the convention allows. The Russian embassy has warned of reciprocal action. Parliament has yet to vote.

Flag states are also moving. The Panama Maritime Authority said it is removing three tankers that the US sanctioned in early October over Iran's oil trade; one has already changed flag. Panama said a 2024 executive decree that speeds up deregistration removed 107 sanctioned ships in its first six months.

This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 18 October 2026.