Sweden Detains Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in Baltic Sea

The oil tanker Sea Owl, which is believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” was detained near the Swedish port city of Trelleborg in the Baltic Sea on March 12. The vessel is under European Union sanctions and is carrying oil or other liquid fuel.

This was reported by the Swedish Coast Guard.

Swedish Civil Defense Minister Karl-Oskar Bolin said this was the second time in a week that the Swedish Coast Guard had boarded a suspicious vessel in the country’s territorial waters.

“For the second time in a week, the Coast Guard has boarded a suspicious “shadow fleet” vessel in Swedish territorial waters. The vessel is likely not state-owned. It is on the EU sanctions list and is transporting oil or other liquid fuel,” said Carl-Oscar Bolin.

According to the Coast Guard, the tanker Sea Owl was flying a false flag of the Comoros. At the same time, the vessel posed a danger to navigation and risks to the environment. An investigation into the vessel’s technical seaworthiness is currently underway.

According to Starboard Maritime Intelligence, the tanker is 228 meters long and uses a fictitious flag. Several other databases do not confirm that the vessel is actually under the jurisdiction of the Comoros.

The Swedish Coast Guard also reported that the Sea Owl was heading to the Russian port of Primorsk from the Brazilian city of Santos. According to the Starboard service, the vessel left the Brazilian port on February 15 and was scheduled to arrive in the port of Tallinn around March 15, after which it was planned to continue on to Primorsk.

Russia’s “shadow fleet” poses a significant security and environmental threat, Sweden’s civil defense minister has said. It consists of hundreds of vessels that are often outdated, poorly maintained, and may fly false flags or have no registration at all.

“The main problem is the circumvention of sanctions against Russia, especially in the field of oil exports, as well as the risks to the environment, the low professionalism of the crews, and the lack of proper insurance,” said Karl-Oscar Bolin.

The day before, Sweden intercepted an oil tanker that is likely part of the so-called Russian “shadow fleet.” The tanker was the Caffa, which was sailing under the Guinean flag.

Recall that the Belgian army on the night of Sunday, March 1, intercepted an oil tanker belonging to the Russian “shadow fleet.”

By the way, the US military intercepted the Aquila II oil tanker in the Indian Ocean , which is linked to the so-called Russian shadow fleet.

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