Daring Maneuver: Shadow Fleet Tanker Evades Norwegian Patrols 0 18

A tanker from the so-called "shadow fleet" executed a daring maneuver, openly ignoring orders from the Norwegian Coast Guard and heading into Russian waters. This alarming event was reported by the Polish radio station RMF24.

Violation of Rules and Environmental Risks

On Monday night, the tanker Apple, suspected of circumventing international sanctions, blatantly disregarded an order from the Norwegian Coast Guard for inspection. The vessel swiftly left Norway's exclusive economic zone, as reported by the radio station. This incident has raised serious concerns about both the environmental safety of the region and the effectiveness of new regulations aimed at controlling the "shadow fleet."

Elusive Path to Russian Waters

Details of the incident are revealed in a publication: "The incident occurred near North Cape, where the Norwegian patrol vessel KV Andenes attempted to establish contact with the tanker Apple. The Equatorial Guinea-flagged vessel turned off its AIS transponder, rendering it invisible in identification systems. Despite repeated attempts... the vessel did not respond and headed into Russian territorial waters."

Suspicions and Technical Condition

Norwegian authorities have justifiably suspected that this tanker may have been involved in circumventing international sanctions imposed against Russia, RMF24 reports. It is worth noting that, according to Norwegian services, the tanker Apple lacks recognized insurance and is in a rather deplorable technical condition.

"Environmental Blackmail"

Stalale Ulriksen from the Norwegian Naval Academy is confident that Russia deliberately sends such "questionable" vessels on Arctic voyages. She hopes that Norway will not risk triggering an environmental disaster capable of destroying its key fish resources. In her opinion, such actions can be confidently characterized as true "environmental blackmail."