According to UK, Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ poses a threat to the nations and others who depend on the world’s seas and oceans. Many ships in this ‘shadow fleet’ are uninsured and poorly maintained. Many engage in activities which violate basic safety and environmental standards and regulations.
The UK has highlighted significant concerns about Russia’s ‘shadow fleet,’ which it deems a threat to maritime safety, environmental standards, and international trade. This fleet comprises primarily older tankers that are often uninsured, poorly maintained, and engaged in activities that breach fundamental safety and environmental regulations.
What is the dark/shadow fleet?
The “dark fleet” or “shadow fleet” comprises primarily older tankers, many of which have not undergone recent inspections and lack proper maintenance. Ownership of these vessels is often unclear, and they frequently operate without adequate insurance coverage, seeking to evade sanctions and mitigate high insurance costs. This increases the risk of oil spill or collision. This could also result in a participating shipowner evading its liability under the relevant liability and compensation treaties.
The UK, along with 44 European countries plus the European Union have agreed to work together to tackle the use of illegitimate vessels, which also pose significant security and environmental threats to European waterways.
The ‘shadow fleet’ comprises ships engaged in illegal operations for the purposes of circumventing sanctions, evading compliance with safety or environmental
regulations, avoiding insurance costs or engaging in other illegal activities.
We strongly endorse IMO Resolution A.1192(33), which urged IMO Member States and all relevant stakeholders to prevent illegal operations in the maritime sector by the ‘shadow fleet’.
…UK said.
As explained, the shadow fleet is made up of around 600 vessels and represents approximately 10% of the global “wet cargo” fleet. It carries approximately 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, generating significant funds to fuel Russia’s war machine.
Some of the ships are also alleged to double as Russian listening stations, while others are believed to be transporting weaponry to Russia.
The Prime Minister told President Zelenskyy that the UK will go further in the coming months to place a greater stranglehold on Putin’s war machine.
The two leaders are also expected to agree a Defence Export Support Treaty, which will be signed by defence ministers, to fire up both the UK’s and Ukraine’s defence industrial bases and increase military hardware and weaponry production.
The treaty will enable Ukraine to draw on £3.5 billion of export finance, to support its armed forces. It will also allow Ukrainian and UK defence companies to invest in further military capabilities and continue to rapidly innovate on new and novel military hardware.
The boost follows the opening of a major UK repair and overhaul facility in Ukraine to help sustain the war effort. BAE Systems opened the facility to allow Ukraine to return overhauled land vehicles back to the front line quicker.
The export finance is in addition to the £3 billion a year of UK support, announced by the Prime Minister at NATO, to support Ukraine’s defence for as long as it takes.
Ukraine is, and always will be, at the heart of this government’s agenda and so it is only fitting that President Zelenskyy will make a historic address to my Cabinet. Russia’s incremental gains on the battlefield are nothing compared with the collective international support for Ukraine, or the strength of ties between our people.
…Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
The UK has also sanctioned a host of oil tankers today, which transport Russian oil. Among the new ships targeted are the ROCKY RUNNER (IMO 9288899), which sought to escape previous UK action by changing its operator.
