A sanctioned Russian tanker was monitored by the Air Corps off the west coast during the visit to Doonbeg, Co Clare, by US president Donald Trump.
As The Irish Independent reports, a crude-oil tanker recently renamed the Dozor was within 80 km of the coastline, having entered Ireland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Sunday.
It reports that the ship previously operated under the name Jumbo and had been sanctioned by multiple countries, including Britain, over its alleged role in activities linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Air Corps C‑295 surveillance aircraft is understood to have conducted observations in the area before flying back towards the Clare coastline, where it remained for several hours, the newspaper says.
The timing of the operation coincided with the final round of the Irish Open in Doonbeg, which President Trump was attending at the invitation of Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Maritime security officials are said to believe some vessels in the Russian shadow fleet could be undertaking surveillance.
Read The Irish Independent here
