Sweden and Denmark have followed Germany in requiring insurance documents from tankers transiting their waters in the Baltic Sea in an effort to combat Russia’s shadow fleet. Vessels without proper insurance will be blacklisted by the US, UK, and EU, further limiting the Kremlin’s ability to circumvent energy sector sanctions and finance its war with Ukraine.
«If we’re looking for the real problem, it’s those who don’t want to show their documents,» said Christina Sieg, professor of maritime law at the Southern University of Denmark. Russia’s shadow fleet largely consists of older tankers with questionable insurance, often owned by foreign shell companies. These vessels fly foreign flags and typically refuse pilots to navigate the narrow coastal straits. Denmark and Sweden fear that these tankers could sooner or later cause a major oil spill, leading to an environmental disaster in the region. The problem is further exacerbated by suspicions that Moscow is using its shadow fleet to carry out sabotage in the Baltic Sea, including cutting undersea cables.
