German Government Prepares to Take Action Against Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”
The German government has repeatedly announced tougher measures against ships evading sanctions against Russia and financing Russian budgets, particularly the oil tankers evading sanctions belonging to the so-called “Shadow Fleet”. Although the situation has not changed much so far, the German newspaper Der Spiegel recently revealed that it may change in the near future, and it seems that the German authorities will now take practical action against Russia’s illegal oil tanker fleet.
Recently, a special forces unit aboard the German Coast Guard patrol vessel BAMBERG (BP 82) demonstrated its ability to prepare for the seizure of oil tankers and other vessels belonging to Russia‘s “Shadow Fleet”. Der Spiegel described a scene where a German federal police transport helicopter hovered above the ship, masked special forces members rappelled down to the aft deck, and then took complete control of the vessel. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and several colleagues from the Baltic states who were watching the drills happily filmed the scene with their smartphones.
Germany’s Military Support for Law Enforcement
Sources told Der Spiegel that the German Navy is ready to support the police force with its ships. A destroyer would make a far more serious impression than a lightly armed Coast Guard patrol boat. The article states that a particular danger to federal police officers is that some submarine fleet vessels carry armed mercenaries, sometimes accompanied by Russian warships.
German Federal Police chief Dieter Romann has long warned that tougher measures against the “Shadow Fleet” could quickly escalate into armed conflict. He feared that if German police or soldiers boarded one of these ships, violence could quickly erupt. However, proponents of a tougher approach toward Russia point out that several countries have seized and even confiscated submarine fleet vessels without causing any escalation.
International Comparisons: France and Sweden’s Experience
France seized the oil tankers Tagor, Deliver, Grinch, and Boracay, while Sweden seized the oil tanker Sea Owl I and the bulk carrier Caffa.
Original Article: Germany conducts training exercises to capture ships belonging to the ‘Dark Fleet’. — Vietnam