Swedish Authorities Continue Investigation into Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker After Baltic Oil Spill
While two crew members suspected of environmental crimes were released following interrogations, the vessel itself remains anchored off Sweden’s southern coast. A third individual was scheduled for questioning on Saturday afternoon, according to Moa Hörnquist, communications officer at the Swedish Prosecution Authority.
Contrary to earlier reports, the EU-sanctioned vessel has not been released. The chemical tanker Flora 1, suspected of belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” remains under detention by Swedish authorities as investigations continue into a 12-kilometer (8-mile) oil spill in the Baltic Sea, Swedish officials said on Saturday, April 4.
The Flora 1, which was reportedly en route from the Russian port of Primorsk to Santos, Brazil, was boarded by the Swedish Coast Guard on Friday after the spill was detected east of the island of Gotland. The incident in the Baltic coincides with a period of significant disruption to Russia’s energy exports. On March 25, market data indicated that up to 40 percent of Russia’s oil export capacity had been taken offline following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on key terminals, including the Transneft facility in Primorsk.
Swedish Coast Guard Steps Up Monitoring of Suspected Shadow Fleet Vessels
The Swedish Coast Guard has stepped up its monitoring of suspected shadow fleet vessels in recent weeks, having boarded the cargo ship Caffa and the tanker Sea Owl I in early March under similar suspicions of sanctions evasion and environmental risks. The legal challenges of policing the shadow fleet were further highlighted on March 30, when a French court in Brest issued an arrest warrant and a one-year jail sentence against Chen Zhangjie, the captain of the Boracay tanker. Zhangjie was sentenced in absentia and ordered to pay a €150,000 ($172,000) fine for failing to comply with orders during a similar boarding in September.
EU Sanctions and Environmental Concerns
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that Russia’s shadow fleet of older, inadequately insured tankers poses a major security and environmental threat to the region. The incident highlights the challenges faced by authorities in policing the shadow fleet, which has been linked to several high-profile oil spills and environmental incidents in recent months.
The Swedish Coast Guard is working closely with international partners to monitor the situation and prevent further environmental damage. As investigations continue into the Flora 1‘s role in the Baltic oil spill, it remains unclear when or if the vessel will be released from detention.
Original Article: Sweden Releases Sanctioned Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker After Baltic Oil Spill — Kyivpost