The Equatorial Guinea-flagged tanker Apple executed a dangerous maneuver in Norwegian waters, blatantly ignoring a Coast Guard order to stop for inspection. The incident occurred near North Cape when the Norwegian patrol vessel KV Andenes attempted to contact the tanker, which is suspected of circumventing international sanctions. Instead of complying, the Apple’s crew disabled its AIS transponder, making the vessel invisible to tracking systems, and swiftly headed toward Russian territorial waters.
Experts from the Norwegian Naval Academy characterize these actions as «environmental blackmail,» as the vessel is in poor technical condition and lacks recognized insurance. Norwegian authorities were forced to act with restraint to avoid triggering an accident that could destroy the region’s fish stocks in the event of an oil spill. This incident highlights the challenges in enforcing new regulations on the shadow fleet, as Russia deliberately utilizes worn-out ships for Arctic voyages, exploiting Western fears of a large-scale ecological disaster.
