shadow fleet

The world is facing severe environmental fallout from efforts to stifle Russia’s war economy. Satellite imagery analysed by Politico shows that a growing fleet of unregulated, ageing tankers—operating in defiance of Western sanctions—is causing oil spills across international waters, endangering ecosystems and global economies.

In March, British coastguards detected a 23-kilometre-long oil slick off Scotland’s coast. The culprit was likely the Innova, a tanker transporting 1 million barrels of Russian oil to India. Despite the spill and mounting evidence linking it to the vessel, no investigation was pursued, and the Innova continues its operations, contributing to Russia’s war chest.

This is not an isolated incident. An investigation by POLITICO and SourceMaterial identified at least nine oil spills by vessels from what is now known as the “shadow fleet.” These ships, frequently old and poorly maintained, sail under obscure ownership, often without insurance, and evade international scrutiny. The environmental impact is becoming increasingly clear, with oil spills detected from the Red Sea to the Panama Canal, posing a significant threat to global maritime ecosystems and economies.

A Growing Global Threat

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted Western sanctions designed to restrict Moscow’s oil and gas revenues, which form nearly half of the country’s budget. The EU imposed a blanket import ban, while G7 countries introduced a $60-per-barrel price cap. However, these measures have been largely ineffective. Russia circumvented the sanctions by building a fleet of over 600 vessels, many of which sail under flags of convenience and rely on shell companies to obscure ownership. This “shadow fleet” now carries 80% of Russia’s seaborne crude oil.

The shadow fleet’s expansion, however, comes with significant risks. Most of these tankers are classified as high-risk, with vessels over 15 years old being more susceptible to technical failures. These unregulated ships frequently switch off their transponders or falsify their locations, making them even harder to track.

Isaac Levi, an expert from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, described the situation as “a ticking time bomb,” warning of the catastrophic environmental and economic consequences if one of these ships suffers a major accident.

Oil Spills and Environmental Consequences

The environmental risks posed by these ships are already evident. The Innova is a prime example: six days after departing from Murmansk in northwest Russia in March, satellite images captured a slick near its coordinates. The spill could have resulted from the discharge of slops, an oily mixture produced by the vessel’s operations, which is illegal under international maritime law. Despite this, UK authorities did not investigate further, citing insufficient evidence.

Another shadow fleet tanker, the Aruna Gulcay, was responsible for a 47-kilometre oil slick off Italy’s coast in February. The Italian coastguard, like their UK counterparts, did not carry out an inspection. These incidents are likely just the tip of the iceberg, according to shipping analysts.

Marine experts warn that these spills pose a severe threat to local wildlife, coastal economies, and food chains. Stepan Boitsov, a researcher specialising in marine pollution, highlighted that oil slicks can render seafood toxic and damage fish reproduction, while clean-up operations often exacerbate the problem by introducing further contaminants.

A Looming Catastrophe

The danger posed by the shadow fleet extends beyond environmental risks. Many of these tankers pass through busy shipping lanes such as the Suez Canal and Panama Canal, raising concerns that a serious accident could disrupt global trade. In July, a collision between two shadow fleet vessels off the coast of Malaysia resulted in both ships catching fire, a scenario that could have had far-reaching consequences had it occurred in a narrower shipping route.

The costs of these spills, both financially and environmentally, are being borne by coastal countries, which struggle to hold the ships accountable due to their obscure ownership structures and lack of insurance. With governments unable to track down those responsible, the burden of clean-up operations falls on taxpayers.

Limited Options for Action

Despite the growing number of spills, options for stopping the shadow fleet are limited. Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a shipping analyst, emphasised that current sanctions are inadequate to prevent Russia from using these vessels to transport oil. She pointed out that many ships continue to evade sanctions, even though individual blacklisting has proven somewhat effective.

Some EU diplomats are calling for the vessels responsible for the oil spills, such as the Innova and Aruna Gulcay, to be included in future sanctions packages. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard confirmed that any ship involved in irregular practices that contribute to Russia’s war effort is at risk of being sanctioned.

Efforts are underway to restrict the sale of ageing tankers to countries that facilitate Russia’s oil trade, and the EU has banned 27 suspect tankers from accessing European ports. However, analysts agree that more needs to be done. Levi, from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, called for a significant expansion of the sanctions list and urged the EU and UK to ban vessels sailing without known insurance through their waters.

A Warning from Experts

Estonia’s Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that a larger oil spill could lead to a “catastrophe.” He added that while sanctions have had some success, the international community must continue to press harder to mitigate the environmental and economic risks posed by Russia’s shadow fleet.

The shadow fleet is a growing global problem that, if left unchecked, could lead to widespread environmental damage and economic disruption. As sanctions struggle to rein in Russia’s oil trade, the world must brace itself for the next inevitable spill.