Oil tanker bound for Russia runs aground in Sweden

The Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Meshka, bound for Russia, ran aground in the Öresund Strait in Sweden.

The incident occurred on Saturday, May 31, the Sweden Herald reports.

The tanker Meshka was heading south to a Russian port when it ran aground in the Öresund Strait near the Swedish city of Landskrona.

On Saturday evening, coast guard divers reported that no holes had been found in the hull. According to the coast guard, the vessel is carrying 938,000 liters of oil.

“We are conducting a preliminary investigation into negligence during maritime transport. One person is suspected,” said Pernilla Johansson, a spokeswoman for the Swedish coast guard.

As USM previously reported, Sweden has announced that it will step up surveillance of Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea. From July 1, the Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration will be able to collect insurance information from vessels that not only enter port, but also simply pass through Swedish territorial waters or the economic zone.