Representatives of environmental organizations in the western states of the United States have issued a statement expressing concern about the growing danger of the shadow fleet. In particular, this is due to the increase in the number of shadow fleet voyages and the number of accidents.
First of all, American environmentalists are referring to the fact that over the past month the number of voyages of oil tankers and ships carrying liquefied natural gas from Russian ports along the Northern Sea Route through the Bering Strait to the Pacific Ocean has sharply increased. Environmentalists say that they are concerned about the fact that these ships are usually old and do not meet environmental standards. The number of accidents, in particular, oil spills into the open sea, is increasing.
Researchers are also concerned about the possibility of these ships transshipping oil, i.e. transferring energy resources on the high seas to hide their origin. This practice is very dangerous, and therefore may threaten a significant environmental disaster.
Environmentalists advocate for increased control over the passage of tankers, especially those under sanctions, through the Bering Strait and the introduction of a possible mechanism for environmental inspections of the condition of these ships.
