A number of environmental organizations from Baltic region countries—specifically Sweden, Finland, and Denmark—are expressing concern over the growing danger posed by shadow fleet tankers in the Baltic Sea. Environmentalists are primarily highlighting the high risk of accidents associated with these vessels during oil transport.
The issue stems from the fact that voyages to Russian ports in the Gulf of Finland are typically carried out by tankers older than 15 years. These vessels often fail to meet environmental standards, leading to oil spills in the open sea. This results in a sharp deterioration of water quality in the Baltic Sea, poses immense threats to marine flora and fauna, and threatens the long-term well-being of coastal nations.
This issue has become particularly urgent now, as the number of voyages by the Russian shadow fleet is rising significantly. Consequently, environmentalists are calling for stronger measures to counter the Russian shadow fleet.
In particular, they propose finally considering—at a pan-European level—the introduction of special enforcement missions capable of intercepting tankers on the high seas for non-compliance with environmental standards.
