Russia’s 'Shadow Fleet' Raises Environmental and Security Alarms in Baltic Sea

Aging tankers evading sanctions risk oil spills and infrastructure sabotage, prompting EU talks on potential seizures.

Russia's 'shadow fleet' of aging, uninsured oil tankers has grown significantly since 2022 to evade Western sanctions on its oil exports.
Experts warn of heightened risks of oil spills in the environmentally sensitive Baltic Sea due to the fleet's poor condition and inexperienced crews.
European nations are drafting legislation to seize these vessels on environmental or piracy grounds, citing incidents of sabotage to undersea infrastructure.
Approximately 30-40 shadow fleet tankers traverse the Gulf of Finland weekly, carrying sanctioned Russian oil, with many concealing their movements by disabling tracking systems.
Challenges to seizing vessels include navigating complex international maritime laws, potential legal retaliation from Russia, and high operational costs.