A group of 14 European countries has issued a joint warning to tankers of the so-called “shadow fleet” operating in the Baltic and North seas and posing a threat to maritime safety. In the event of violations of international rules, such vessels may be detained without legal consequences.
Source: Bukvy
The statement, published by the UK Department for Transport, emphasizes that ships may sail only under the flag of one state and are required to have valid safety and insurance documents. A tanker that fails to meet these requirements will be considered a stateless vessel under international maritime law.
The document was signed by Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The countries warned that tankers changing flags, switching off transponders, or lacking proper documentation may be detained.
According to estimates, the “shadow fleet” consists of about 1,500 outdated tankers transporting Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil, often using false flags. These vessels play a key role in exporting Russian oil while circumventing sanctions.
European countries also pointed to Russia’s interference with satellite navigation systems and automatic identification systems for ships, which creates additional risks for international shipping.
Earlier, Germany banned the passage through its waters of the tanker Tavian, which is linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet.” The vessel, with suspicious documents and a false identification number, was turned back and is heading toward the Norwegian Sea.
A joint statement by the leaders of NATO countries in the Baltic Sea region emphasizes that Russia’s “shadow fleet” poses a serious threat to maritime and environmental security, underwater infrastructure, and contributes to financing Russia’s war against Ukraine. EU and NATO countries plan to strengthen controls, expand sanctions, and intensify cooperation to counter this threat.
Discussion about this post