Representatives of German environmental organizations express concern about the movement of tankers of the Russian shadow fleet in German waters. According to the results of the study, tankers have increasingly begun to choose new routes that pass in close proximity to the German coast and the popular resort island of Rügen. This threatens with massive oil spills, which could lead to the death of thousands of people and the destruction of a unique natural ecosystem.
According to accurate calculations by researchers, from the beginning of March to mid-June of this year, 136 tankers of the «shadow fleet» have already used this dangerous route, while during the same period last year, not a single such case was recorded in this water area.
The situation is complicated by the fact that these vessels regularly sail with their navigation transponders completely switched off, deliberately conceal their nationality or go without a flag at all, while official Germany continues to allow these old tankers, which in most cases do not even have international financial insurance, to pass through without any obstacles.
Experts note that 31 ships of the Russian shadow fleet did not just pass by, but even entered directly into the sovereign twelve-mile maritime zone of Germany. They call for the closure of the passage of tankers with Russian oil in German territorial waters, as this threatens
