FT: Russian shadow fleet threatens Baltic Sea with environmental disaster risk

The head of the world's largest ship-breaking company warned in the Financial Times that more than half of sanctioned oil tankers are corroding and pose a serious environmental disaster risk. Russia's ageing shadow fleet vessels frequently transit the Baltic Sea, exposing the region to unprecedented ecological risk.

The head of the world's largest ship-breaking company has warned that more than half of sanctioned oil tankers are in poor technical condition and could cause a major environmental catastrophe. According to the Financial Times, the threat is particularly serious because many of these ageing vessels operate in the Baltic Sea region.

Shadow fleet threat escalates

The so-called Russian shadow fleet — a network of ageing tankers used to circumvent sanctions — has generated growing concern among international maritime experts and environmentalists alike. According to experts, many of these vessels are so poorly maintained that their hulls and structures are actively corroding, creating a high risk of accident.

The Baltic Sea is particularly vulnerable to oil pollution due to its geographical isolation. The sea is shallow, cold and exchanges water slowly — an oil spill in this region would impact the ecosystems of coastal states for decades. The coastlines of Estonia, Finland, Sweden and other Baltic Sea states would be directly at risk.

International community demands action

International maritime organisations have repeatedly pointed out that tankers belonging to the shadow fleet often operate without proper insurance and safety certificates. This means that in the event of a disaster, compensation and cleanup operations would be extremely difficult to fund.

The Baltic states have demanded stricter measures from the European Union to limit the transit of risk tankers through regional waters. While existing sanctions have closed some routes, the shadow fleet has found new ways to circumvent the rules.