- It is "suspected of belonging to a Russian company that is currently on a sanctions list by the EU," the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel press office confirmed to NBC News.
- Reports say that the 127 meter-long vessel is called the "Baltic Leader" and the crew were cooperating with the authorities.
France on Saturday intercepted a Russian vessel in the English Channel in line with new EU sanctions against Moscow.
The cargo ship was transporting cars and left Rouen bound for St. Petersburg. However, French sea police redirected the vessel to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France.
It is "suspected of belonging to a Russian company that is currently on a sanctions list by the EU," the press office of the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel confirmed to NBC News.
Reports say that the 127 meter-long vessel is called the "Baltic Leader" and the crew were cooperating with the authorities.
The Russian RIA news agency said that the Russian embassy in France had immediately contacted the French authorities for clarification.
The Maritime Prefecture of the Channel explained that "every night sea police carry out patrols on the waters looking out for migrants crossing the Channel. They came across the Russian boat, an inspection aboard was made and the boat ordered to return to the French port."
A cargo ship bound for St. Petersburg was intercepted in the English Channel early on Saturday as the latest trade sanctions begin to hit at the Russian economy.
The 416ft commercial boat named the 'Baltic Leader' is understood to belong to Promsvyazbank, one of the five major Russian banks which were hit with crippling EU sanctions this week, and was seized in the English Channel early on Saturday morning.
Promsvyazbank was named in the House of Commons as one of five Russian state-owned financial institutions that would be hit with sanctions.
Meanwhile, a US Treasury document said 'Baltic Leader' was owned by Promsvyazbank, which was described as 'systemically important' to Russia's defence industry.
Maritime officers have been given the power to intercept and seize vessels suspected of contravening EU-backed sanctions of Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian invasion.
In what is understood to be the first instance of Russian assets being frozen while in transit, the boat was intercepted by customs officials near Honfleur, in Normandy, after departing from the French city of Rouen.
French authorities said the ship, which has been loaded with cars, belonged to a company suspected of violating trade sanctions linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
'Baltic Leader' had arrived in the French city of Rouen on February 19 and spent almost six days docked there until departing on Friday night.
The vessel had been expected to reach St. Petersburg on Thursday, March 3.
Captain Véronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, said the ship was then diverted to the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer between 3 and 4am (2/3am GMT) and that ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials.
All 19 crew members aboard 'Baltic Leader' are said to be co-operating with the investigation. The process could take up to 48 hours.
Captain Magnin said the boat is 'strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions'.
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