Specialists Warn of Russian “Shadow Fleet” in Baltic

(MENAFN) Maritime specialists have raised alarms that Russia’s expanding “shadow fleet” of crude carriers in the Baltic Sea presents an immediate danger of a multibillion-dollar ecological catastrophe.

According to a news agency, at least 17 fully loaded vessels operating under fake flags were active in the Baltic during July, referencing data from the research company Windward.

Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a senior strategist at Windward, emphasized that it is “only a matter of time before a tens of billion-dollar oil spill occurs,” noting that nearby coastal nations will likely be forced to handle the consequences.

The shadow fleet — thought to exceed 600 ships — has grown in size as Western sanctions pressure Russia’s petroleum exports.

Numerous tankers avoid international safety regulations by navigating without valid insurance or seaworthiness documentation, effectively making them stateless.

Windward revealed that some ships, stripped of their official registration due to sanctions or poor upkeep, have been re-enrolled in counterfeit registries managed by shell firms.

“We have discovered eleven fraudulent registers used by shipping companies operating in Russia. They are just worthless pieces of paper,” Bockmann stated.

Although international law does not strictly forbid these ships from sailing, coastal nations may take action if they identify serious hazards.

Bockmann explained that European authorities are applying the tools available to them, yet the challenge “cannot be solved overnight.”

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