A Danish-led initiative aims to target ships transporting sanctioned Russian oil through the Baltic Sea. In the future, ships suspected of being part of the so-called shadow fleet will have their insurance papers checked. Denmark and a number of allied countries announced this in a joint statement on Monday evening. Danwatch previously learned the same thing.
- We are determined to hold them (the vessels, ed.) accountable, including through sanctions, the statement says.
If the vessels are not cooperative, they will be listed in a register. The register can later be used in connection with sanctions, says American Russia and sanctions expert Craig Kennedy from Harvard University to the media.
- A register gives the authorities a tool to keep track of problematic ships and to build a case with a view to sanctioning them in the future.
Broad coalition
Denmark has established cooperation to check the ships' insurance papers with a coalition consisting of Great Britain, Poland, the Baltic countries and the Nordic countries.
A number of media have previously described challenges with the shadow fleet. The ships are generally old and worn out and sail through Danish waters. They often have unknown insurance and ownership and are used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions because they cannot be traced back to Russia.
In early May, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Minister stated that "any Danish measure that restricts Russian ships in the Baltic Sea will be seen as hostile and will result in retaliation". Reuters reported.
At the time, Lars Løkke Rasmussen took the Russian announcement calmly, he stated in a written response to Ritzau.
- We will of course always abide by international laws and regulations and the obligations that follow from this. Exactly as we expect Russian ships to do, he said.
Insurance documents must also help establish that the ships have their safety under control and that there is money to clean up after a possible oil spill. Previously, the EU has pressed for Denmark to stop the ships.
However, according to Danwatch, this would be in violation of the so-called Copenhagen Treaty, which obliges Denmark to let all ships pass through Danish straits. The Danish side plans to announce the initiative on Monday evening, the media outlet further writes.
/ritzau/
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