Experts from several university research centers in Southeast Asia—including the National University of Singapore—have expressed concern regarding the technical condition of oil tankers in the Pacific Ocean. They are particularly worried about vessels belonging to the Russian «shadow fleet,» which regularly transport oil from Russian ports in the Arctic Ocean.
Most of these vessels have been in service for over 20 years—an age at which cargo ships are typically sent for scrap. Beyond this point, aging systems and corrosion resulting from years at sea compromise their seaworthiness. Industry insiders warn that such vessels often lack insurance, receive poor maintenance, and operate with less qualified crews.
Some of these vessels lack proper insurance, are inadequately maintained, and are operated by insufficiently trained crews. Such crews are more prone to making errors than professional seafarers. This situation could lead to massive oil spills in the territorial waters of Asian nations.
Researchers advocate for stricter sanctions against «shadow fleet» tankers, demanding more thorough inspections of the vessels’ technical condition and the imposition of harsher penalties for violations of environmental regulations.
