European coastal countries working together to address Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’

15 November 2024

From 13 to 15 November, 12 European countries on the coasts of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea met in Helsinki and Tallinn to make agreements about addressing Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.

The group of experts from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom are seeking to work together more closely in order to better detect and monitor the shadow fleet.

Third meeting

This meeting in Helsinki and Tallinn was the third of its kind, following previous talks in Copenhagen and Oslo. At the meeting the countries stressed the importance of information-sharing and joint actions, such as the coordination of sanctions.

The group of experts focused mainly on the activities of the shadow fleet in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. In these sensitive and busy waters, the risk of environmental damage and maritime accidents is especially great.

Joint statement

In a joint statement the coastal countries stressed the importance of close cooperation and information-sharing. They also agreed to work closely on imposing sanctions and to explore new common measures against the Russian shadow fleet.

Read the joint statement

Diplomatic statement

The participating countries included Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, that met in order to discuss further international possibilities for addressing Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’.

The participating countries,

1. Emphasizing the importance of IMO Resolution A.1192(33), adopted on 6 December 2023, urging all Member States to promote actions to prevent illegal operations in the maritime sector by the shadow fleet;
2. Referring to the Council of Baltic Sea States ‘Porvoo Declaration’ as of 14 June 2024 calling for decisive joint actions on the shadow fleet transporting Russian oil, including the strengthening of sanctions;
3. Reaffirming the ‘Call to Action’ on the shadow fleet, agreed at the UK-hosted European Political Community (EPC) Summit on 18 July 2024, signed by 46 countries and the European Union, on addressing the risks that the shadow fleet poses to the environment, maritime safety and security, the integrity of international seaborne trade, and respect for international maritime law as well as the agreement for our relevant experts to meet together as a group and in regional formats in order to take forward concrete measures;
4. Underlining the firm measures already adopted by the European Union and the United Kingdom as well as our partner countries to jointly address the challenge of the shadow fleet as well as our ongoing cooperation on vessel designations;
5. Following the spirit of the initial gathering of the Expert Group by Denmark as well as the previous meetings in Oslo and Copenhagen in relation to our shared commitment to jointly pursue further sanctions and international action against the shadow fleet’s activity,

are determined to collectively confront the risks posed by the shadow fleet, especially in the environmentally sensitive waters of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea as well as to explore new possibilities for common measures against the shadow fleet within the framework of international law.

What is the Russian shadow fleet?

On account of sanctions against Russia, Russian ships are no longer permitted to dock in European ports, and there is a ban on the export of Russian oil to the European Union. Russia is attempting to circumvent these rules with a ‘shadow fleet’, using ships which do not have clear registrations and flags and which have their transponders switched off. This fleet also poses a danger to the environment and maritime safety and security, especially for the coastal states.

Source – Government of the Netherlands