A joint investigation by POLITICO and the non-profit journalism group SourceMaterial uncovered at least 9 instances of oil spills from vessels belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” since 2021, posing serious environmental risks around the globe, POLITICO reported on October 16.
The findings were based on satellite imagery from SkyTruth, combined with shipping data from Lloyd’s List and Kpler.
The report highlights that Russia’s shadow fleet, which has expanded to over 600 tankers since Western sanctions were imposed, is often involved in transporting illicit goods using old, uninsured tankers.
These vessels have left oil spills in regions ranging from Thailand to Mexico and Italy, passing through crucial maritime routes like the Panama Canal and the Red Sea, raising concerns about potential disruptions to international trade.
Exerts are warning that, warning that the shadow fleet represents a “ticking time bomb” that could result in oil spills with devastating impacts on the environment and global trade.
These aging vessels are reportedly harder to regulate, often lack insurance, and operate outside international oversight, making them difficult to hold accountable for any accidents or environmental damage they cause.
Russia’s increasing reliance on these vessels, particularly to dodge Western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, is part of its broader strategy to maintain revenue flows while evading restrictions on oil exports.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) around 80% of Moscow’s seaborne crude was transported on vessels outside Western control. Meanwhile, the overall number of shadow fleet vessels more than tripled since 2022.
According to data analyzed by CREA, the Kremlin’s shadow fleet transported €80 billion worth of oil by September since the G7 imposed the price cap two years ago.
Moscow reportedly uses a fleet of over 600 tankers, many obscured through shell companies, to avoid sanctions like the $60-per-barrel price cap set by G7 allies.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, appealed to European countries to start a fight against the “shadow fleet” of tankers transporting Russian oil.
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