Distress Call from Russian Shadow Fleet Vessel Highlights Increased Risk to Life and Environment
A distress call from an uninsured Russian “shadow fleet” vessel thought to be loaded with fuel shows the “increased risk” to life and the environment as Putin’s tankers tackle a more difficult maritime route to avoid the English Channel, experts say.
The Myra issued an urgent call for help around 2pm last Saturday while battling waves almost 10 metres tall and winds of 86mph in the North Atlantic near the coast of Northern Ireland. The vessel, which is 20 years old, is one of Putin’s shadow fleet tankers widely considered to have reached the limit of safe operation.
Aging Shadow Fleet Tankers Pose Environmental Threat
Major oil companies generally operate no vessels beyond 15 years for safety reasons. If an uninsured tanker becomes damaged and leaks its cargo, it can result in the coastal state footing the bill – which in this case would have been the UK and Ireland. The i Paper has previously reported how aging shadow fleet tankers, some nearly 30 years of age, are passing through UK waters, risking thousands of tonnes of oil leaking in the event of a failure of the vessel’s hull.
RAF and British Coastguard Respond to Distress Call
With fears of an oil spill and concern for the 21-strong crew on board, the RAF and British coastguard scrambled to assist the oil products tanker which was around 200 miles off the coast in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. Despite intending to head down towards the Mediterranean, the Myra had diverted around the top of the UK to avoid the English Channel.
Shadow Fleet Vessels Take Riskier Route
The route is increasingly common with shadow fleet vessels after the Royal Navy’s capture of the Smyrtos in June, as the UK looks to clamp down on sanctioned vessels carrying Russian oil. The false-flagged Myra is described by Starboard Maritime Intelligence as having “no recorded P&I insurance, and is sanctioned by the UK, EU, USA, Canada, and Switzerland”.
False Alarm, But Real Threat Remains
The scale of the danger subsided after those on board later said the distress call had been a false alarm and continued on their route towards Spain. It has not been confirmed whether the ship was carrying fuel, as would be expected for a tanker departing Ust Luga and destined for Port Said in Egypt, but open-source analysis suggests the vessel appears to be empty or only part-loaded.
Experts Warn of Environmental and Financial Threat
Nonetheless, the incident has brought into focus the stark warnings from maritime experts of the environmental and financial threat uninsured shadow fleet vessels pose. Myra’s distress call highlights “the increased risk as poorly managed, unregistered, and uninsured tankers risk the North Atlantic to avoid enforcement actions”, Douglas said.
Gonzalo Saiz, a research fellow at the defence and security think-tank Royal United Services Institute, highlights the case of the shadow fleet tanker Caroline Bezengi as the reality of what happens if one of these tankers gets into trouble.
Original Article: The ‘distress call’ that shows how Putin is risking a UK disaster with his shadow fleet — Co