Sweden tightens controls on foreign vessels in Baltic Sea

The Swedish government is introducing stricter controls on foreign vessels navigating the Baltic Sea in a move aimed at countering the so-called Russian shadow fleet. 

Beginning July 1, the Swedish Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration will be authorised to collect insurance information not only from ships calling at Swedish ports, but also from those transiting through Sweden’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The new measures are part of Sweden’s broader strategy to address maritime security concerns and enforce international sanctions.

“We think it will have both a deterrent effect on vessels that are part of the Russian shadow fleet, and provide a basis for taking other measures, such as sanctioning more vessels,” says Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer to Swedish Radio Ekot.

The shadow fleet refers to a network of aging vessels with opaque ownership structures and often lacking proper insurance. These ships are frequently used to evade international sanctions, including the oil price cap targeting Russian crude exports.

In a press statement, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasised the significance of the new controls. 

”This underscores Sweden's clear presence in the Baltic Sea, which in itself has a deterrent effect. It also provides Sweden and our allies with important information about vessels that can be used as a basis for sanctioning more vessels in the shadow fleet”, Kristersson said. 

The Ministry of Justice describes the initiative as a key step in strengthening maritime oversight and bolstering Sweden’s role in upholding international security measures in the Baltic region.

By Sabina Mammadli