Sweden releases Russian shadow fleet tanker finding no proof of wrongdoing
Flora 1 tanker (photo: vesselfinder.com)
On April 5, Sweden released a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker that had been detained on April 3 over suspicions of causing an oil spill in the Baltic Sea. Authorities reportedly could not find evidence, according to the Independent.
The media notes that authorities allegedly could not find proof that the sanctioned tanker Flora 1, detained by the Swedish Coast Guard, was responsible for creating a 12-kilometer-long oil spill.
At the same time, Cameroon, the country whose flag the tanker flew, unexpectedly confirmed that the vessel is officially registered under its maritime registry. As a result, even under suspicion of flag fraud, further detention of the tanker was not possible.
The Flora 1 tanker is listed among vessels subject to European Union sanctions for transporting Russian oil and for "practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices."
"Unsafe practices can include turning off the automatic tracking system that transmits the vessel's location to other ships," the outlet explained.
The Ukrainian government identified Flora 1 as owned by a Hong Kong-based company. The vessel is subject to sanctions by the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
"It has been observed turning off its automatic tracking system, a step that hides a vessel's location, and engaging in a ship-to-ship transfer, which can be a way to disguise the origins of an oil cargo," the outlet added.
Earlier, on April 3, the Swedish Coast Guard detained the sanctioned tanker Flora 1, suspected of causing an oil spill in the Baltic Sea. The tanker, carrying 24 people, was anchored near the town of Ystad.
The European Union is currently discussing stricter sanctions against vessels transporting Russian oil in violation of restrictions, with ports that accept such tankers potentially targeted. Meanwhile, the UK announced it will begin intercepting "shadow fleet" tankers in its waters.
