Representatives of environmental protection societies are sounding the alarm over new routes of Russian tankers. They were joined by a number of experts from the International Maritime Organization, who emphasize the growing danger from the passage of the shadow fleet.
Experts emphasize that Russian companies operating shadow fleet tankers have decided on new routes for oil ships. In particular, tankers will now be allowed to pass through protected areas in the ocean, as well as areas where rare fish and animals live. Previously, tankers bypassed such areas, but now, due to the increase in transportation costs, Russian oil companies are trying to make routes cheaper in order to maintain profits.
Researchers emphasize that this practice is extremely dangerous for the nature of European countries. As a result of oil and oil product leaks, the waters of reserves and habitats of rare fish species are being polluted. This threatens the death of hundreds of thousands of marine inhabitants.
Therefore, experts call for a strengthening of the fight against tankers of the shadow fleet, in particular by increasing the number of ship detentions and including new tankers on the sanctions lists.
