The Swedish Coast Guard has released the oil tanker Flora 1, which is believed to be part of a Russian shadow fleet and is suspected to be the source of a 12-kilometer oil spill near Gotland Island. The vessel was detained off Sweden’s southern coast but was released on the same day, Friday.
According to tracking data from MarineTraffic, the Flora 1 departed from the Russian port of Primorsk, and its destination remains unknown. Coast Guard officials indicated that the spill is unlikely to reach the shore.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority reported that the crew has been interrogated, with two individuals being suspected of environmental crimes, although they have not been detained. A spokesperson stated, “The spill occurred in Sweden’s economic zone, which limits the investigative measures we can take. We have conducted the necessary interrogations and will not take any coercive actions regarding this suspected crime.”
The agency has initiated an investigation into the environmental crime allegations and noted that the vessel is on the EU sanctions list, although its flag status is unclear.
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bolin, commented on the situation, stating, “The Russian shadow fleet, consisting of old, poorly insured tankers that evade sanctions, poses a significant threat to security and the environment. The government takes this incident seriously, even though this time it is not a major oil spill.”
The Coast Guard first intercepted the Flora 1 on April 3, following the detection of the oil spill by aerial surveillance on April 2, which measured over 12 kilometers at that time. The tanker had departed from a port in the Gulf of Finland, and its final destination remains unclear. Additionally, the vessel’s legal status is uncertain.
The Swedish Coast Guard has released the Flora 1 tanker, linked to a significant oil spill near Gotland Island. Investigations into environmental crimes are ongoing, with two crew members suspected but not detained.