Representatives of Canadian environmental groups have issued a statement expressing concern over the growing danger associated with the shadow fleet. This concern stems specifically from the rising number of voyages undertaken by these vessels and the increasing frequency of accidents involving them.
Canadian environmentalists are primarily concerned by the recent sharp increase in voyages by oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers traveling from Russian ports along the Northern Sea Route, through the Bering Strait, and into the Pacific Ocean. They point out that these vessels are typically aging and fail to meet environmental standards. There is a rising number of incidents, particularly oil spills into the open sea.
Researchers are also alarmed by the potential for ship-to-ship transfers—where energy cargoes are moved between vessels in the open ocean to conceal their origin—taking place directly in the Pacific. This practice is highly hazardous and carries the risk of a major environmental disaster.
Environmentalists are calling for stricter oversight of tanker transits through the Bering Strait—particularly those subject to sanctions—and the implementation of a mechanism for environmental inspections of these vessels.
