Ajay Pant, 38, an Indian national, has been charged under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 with supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil to a third country in June 2026.
Mr Pant appeared by videolink from Bournemouth police station at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
He confirmed his name, date of birth, and gave his address as being in India, but gave no indication of plea.
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The case has been sent to Bournemouth Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on July 16.
Mr Pant will remain in custody until then.
The vessel, now anchored off Weymouth in Dorset, remains detained.
Joanne Jakymec, chief Crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “The CPS has decided to prosecute Ajay Pant for breaching Russian sanctions following a National Crime Agency investigation and the seizure of the shadow oil tanker, MV Smyrtos, travelling through the English Channel over the last weekend.”
The 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, remain onboard.
Ms Jakymec said: “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against Pant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”