Estonian crackdown on Russian shadow fleet boosts security
Estonian police and border guard have checked over 200 tankers from the Russian "shadow fleet." Estonia was the first country to start verifying these vessels' documents.
The Estonian police and border guard conducted over 200 inspections of tankers transporting sanctioned Russian oil in the second half of the year. Estonia was the first country to undertake the verification of documents from vessels belonging to the Russian "shadow fleet," according to the Ministry of Climate.
Inspections in Estonian waters
Inspections of suspicious tankers in the Estonian economic zone waters began in June. Jaak Viilipu, head of the maritime department in the Estonian Ministry of Climate, reported that the inspections include both "radio calls" and physical checks of the vessels.
In most cases, the ship captains cooperated with the authorities and provided the required information, and the vessels' documents were fully compliant with regulations, the official conveyed in a conversation with ERR radio.
In the last six months, a total of over 240 inspections have been conducted. In one instance, the ship's commander did not respond to calls and refused to allow officials on board, but a week later voluntarily submitted documents confirming the vessel's insurance. "This shows that such inspections work, and these kinds of pressure measures should continue to be maintained," added Viilipu.
Geopolitical threat
In June, during the Baltic Sea States Council meeting in Porvoo, Finland, it was recognised that the "shadow fleet" poses a threat to security, the environment, and from a geopolitical standpoint.
Main Russian oil terminals are situated in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, in the St Petersburg, Primorsk, and Ust-Luga regions. Russian "shadow tankers," not covered by Western insurance, play a key role in circumventing sanctions imposed by the G7, transporting oil to buyers willing to pay more than the established maximum price, which supports Russia's war machine in Ukraine.
The Estonian Ministry of Climate noted that in previous years, almost all maritime transport through the Baltic was covered by Western insurance. Currently, policies from third countries such as China, India, or former Soviet republics like Kyrgyzstan are visible.
