In the Baltic Sea, the Swedish coastguard is monitoring a significant presence of what is referred to as Russia’s “shadow fleet,” comprised of aging tankers operating under various identities to transport oil from Russia to countries like China and India. On a live map displayed on the bridge of a patrol vessel, over a dozen vessels are indicated by green symbols, highlighting their activity near southern Sweden’s coastline.
These unregulated ships traverse a busy maritime corridor, as the Baltic region, once anticipated to strengthen NATO presence, has become increasingly complicated due to hybrid warfare and Russian maneuvers following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The increasing number of shadow fleet vessels strains local maritime oversight, prompting the Swedish coastguard to intensify their patrol efforts.
During a recent patrol from Karlskrona, coastguard personnel expressed concerns regarding the potential for oil spills and the overall seaworthiness of these shadow fleet vessels. They highlighted that many of these ships are now seen in the Baltic for the first time, including one oil tanker currently flagged in Malta, which reportedly carried diesel from Primorsk, Russia, and is headed to Turkey. While the vessels operate within economic zones, the coastguard’s legal authority to intervene is limited unless certain maritime crimes are evident.
In recent months, the crew’s cooperation with coastguard inquiries has been noted amidst ongoing efforts to gather more information on these vessels amid fears of ecological disasters. However, the absence of regulation raises alarms over uninsured ships, which could impose financial burdens on taxpayers in the event of environmental incidents.
The complexities of the situation are underscored by navigational disturbances and increased military presence in the region, as authorities work to navigate both security and environmental risks associated with the shadow fleet’s operations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/13/hundreds-baltic-tracking-russia-shadow-fleet-oil-tankers