EU calls for global cooperation in the fight against Russia’s shadow fleet

The EU needs help in combating the environmental and security threats posed by old Russian oil tankers.

The EU needs coordinated international action to effectively control the “shadow fleet” of tankers transporting Russian oil. This was stated by the head of the audit of the European Court of Auditors (ECA), Christian Sniter, Trade Winds writes.

According to the official, the EU cannot independently combat the risks posed by these old vessels, because they not only circumvent sanctions, but also pose an environmental threat due to their inadequate technical condition.

“We focus on the control system and indicate that more can be done. We need to strengthen the monitoring of satellite data, conduct more frequent inspections for oil leaks and tighten requirements for waste disposal,” Sniter emphasized.

European ports have the legal right to inspect ships entering their ports, but full control requires a joint effort. For now, the EU cannot decide on the detention of such ships alone – this should be a joint decision at the level of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

“You can’t just intercept a ship suspected of being part of the ‘shadow fleet’. This requires clear international rules,” Sniter explained.

Last month, it became known that the Baltic and Nordic countries are in talks to strengthen control over the ‘shadow fleet’. Governments are developing new legislative initiatives that include:

• targeted inspections of old tankers if they pose an environmental threat;

• application of piracy laws against ships that may threaten underwater communications;

• strengthening national laws that will make it more difficult for Russian tankers to operate.

One key proposal is to require ships to use insurance companies from an approved list, which would automatically exclude many tankers associated with the “shadow fleet.” The EU is expected to coordinate these measures at the bloc level. Recently, USM reported that Russia has taken some of the companies of the so-called shadow fleet abroad.