Tightened Swedish controls aim to counter Russian shadow fleet
Starting Sunday, Sweden is tightening controls on foreign ships in the Baltic Sea to counter threats from the Russian shadow fleet. This fleet recently gained attention due to disruptions of cables under the sea.
Sweden is implementing new regulations that allow for stricter monitoring of foreign ships in the Baltic Sea. The aim is to counter threats from the Russian shadow fleet. The new regulations enable the collection of information about the insurance of ships passing through Swedish territorial waters and the economic zone.
Let's recall that the shadow fleet consists of ships under foreign flags—often from exotic countries—that are essentially Russian. They recently came into the spotlight due to incidents involving the disruption of power and fiber optic cables running under the Baltic Sea.
As described, the Baltic Sea contains four main pipelines, about 48 international power cables, 15 fibre optic cables, and there are 10 gas terminals and 18 offshore wind farms in operation, with more being developed in Polish waters. Their connection to land comprises about 200 kilometres of new power and telecommunication cables. These are threatened by the so-called shadow fleet. This term also refers to ships transporting Russian resources while circumventing sanctions.
Sweden strikes at the Russian shadow fleet
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that the new law increases Sweden's presence in the Baltic, which acts as a deterrent. Additionally, Sweden and its allies gain access to key information that could be used to expand the sanctions list against the Russian shadow fleet.
Justice Minister Gunnar Stroemmer reminded that the shadow fleet operates by circumventing international regulations. Russia uses old tankers under flags of exotic countries, often with invalid insurance documents, which poses an environmental risk in the event of an oil spill.
Russian shadow fleet: Ships under foreign flags
An analysis by Swedish TV SVT revealed that on May 21, the day EU sanctions were introduced, at least 19 shadow fleet ships were in the Baltic and North Sea. Near Gotland, the tanker Sun, registered in the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda, was spotted.
Commander Erik Kockx from NATO reported suspicious maneuvers by Russian merchant ships in the Baltic Sea. During the "Baltic Sentry" operation, it was observed that strange ship behaviours ceased when NATO vessels approached.
Currently, the EU blacklist includes 342 suspected ships. Enhanced controls aim to prevent potential acts of sabotage on submarine cables and pipelines.
