Russia's shadow fleet: 900 ships threaten the Baltic Sea!

Russia's shadow fleet: 900 ships threaten the Baltic Sea!

In the context of current geopolitical developments, Russia's “shadow fleet” has once again become the focus of international attention. This secret fleet, estimated to consist of around 900 old, unregistered ships, is supposedly designed to circumvent the Western oil embargo imposed as a result of the Ukraine war. This information is corroborated by the French Admiral Benoit de Guibert, who emphasizes that about ten of these ships are monitored in the English Channel every day. The shipping register shows that many of the vessels mentioned are often not adequately insured, which poses significant safety risks, including the threat of environmental disasters.

The problem of the “shadow fleet” is not only limited to Russia, but also includes other states such as Iran and North Korea. This fleet benefits from the liberality of international maritime law and the lack of transparency in global maritime traffic, which makes monitoring much more difficult. While there are different estimates about the number of ships - the Estonian Defense Minister says around 500, Greenpeace says around 200 - the need for measures against this fleet is undisputed.

EU sanctions and new measures

In light of these developments, the European Union plans to expand the list of ships used by Russia to transport oil by 77 ships as part of the 18th round of sanctions. Germany and Sweden have already taken new measures to tighten controls on tankers with inadequate insurance. From July 1, 2025, tanker crews will be asked about their insurance coverage against oil spill damage. Abnormalities are observed throughout Europe and can lead to possible sanctions.

Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder emphasizes the urgency of obtaining a complete picture in order to be able to take effective measures. This initiative is particularly relevant as more than a dozen ships continue to deliver Russian crude oil directly to European ports despite the EU ban. Research by Report Mainz shows that the risk of an oil spill in the busy waters of the Baltic Sea is increasing. Environmental activists, like Greenpeace activist Nina Noelle, are using GPS tracking devices to investigate the spread of a potential oil slick in the Baltic Sea.

Ship movements in the Baltic Sea

According to the reports, the number of tankers transporting Russian crude oil through the Baltic Sea has increased since the start of the Ukraine war. Greenpeace documents that almost 1,000 oil tankers passed through the Baltic Sea in 2023, which is the highest number. Compared to the first seven months of 2021, when only 290 tankers were recorded, there is an alarming increase in activity. Part of this fleet clearly violates the EU sanctions, which have banned Russian crude oil shipments by ship to the EU since March 2023.

Exemplary transports, such as the tanker “Calida,” which departed Ust-Luga on August 23, 2024 and arrived in Augusta, Italy, on September 11, 2024, illustrate the challenges of monitoring this fleet. Satellite data shows that many of these ships loaded in Russian ports and reduced their draft after arriving at EU ports to deceive possible controls.

The EU Commission points out that monitoring sanctions is the responsibility of the member states. Nevertheless, the current situation shows that cooperation and coordination between the EU member states, including the German federal government, is urgently needed. The federal government plans to sanction more oil tankers and is in close contact with G7 and EU partners.

The situation surrounding Russia's shadow fleet remains tense, and international communities face the challenge of taking effective measures to minimize both economic and environmental risks.

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