On April 3, the Swedish Coast Guard reported the interception of a tanker suspected of causing an oil spill in the Baltic Sea. The vessel, identified as Flora 1, was ordered to anchor in Swedish territorial waters following the detection of a spill extending over 12 kilometers east of Gotland Island.
The Coast Guard’s surveillance aircraft first spotted the oil slick on Thursday morning. As part of an ongoing investigation into potential environmental crimes, authorities noted that the Flora 1 is listed on the European Union’s sanctions list, raising several questions regarding its operational status and flag.
Daniel Stenling, the Deputy Operations Chief of the Coast Guard, emphasized the agency’s proactive measures in response to emissions, attributing increased maritime surveillance to the deteriorating security situation in the Baltic region. The tanker was reportedly en route from a port in the Gulf of Finland to Santos, Brazil, and investigators are now assessing whether there are additional suspicions beyond the oil spill.
While the Coast Guard did not explicitly link the tanker to Russia, Sweden’s Minister of Civil Defense, Carl-Oscar Bolin, remarked on the significant threat posed by Russia’s shadow fleet, which comprises aging and underinsured tankers that evade sanctions. He stated, “The government takes this incident seriously, even though this time it does not involve a large-scale oil spill.” The estimated volume of the spill ranges from 1.7 to 18 cubic meters, which, if larger, could have devastating effects on marine ecosystems and the Swedish coastline.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga commended the swift actions of Swedish authorities, highlighting the security and environmental risks posed by the Russian shadow fleet. He stated, “Ukraine fully supports Sweden’s efforts to uphold international law, enforce sanctions, and protect the Baltic Sea. We must remain united and vigilant against such threats.”
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, the Flora 1 is implicated in the export of Russian oil from ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, utilizing deceptive and high-risk practices, including disabling AIS and STS transmissions near Greece. The Directorate links the tanker to companies involved in transporting Russian crude oil under Western sanctions, with sanctions imposed by the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Ukraine.
The Swedish Coast Guard has detained the tanker Flora 1 amid an investigation into an oil spill in the Baltic Sea. The vessel, under EU sanctions, raises concerns about environmental safety and its links to Russian oil exports.