Sweden will step up insurance checks on foreign ships as worries about Russia rise

STOCKHOLM AP Sweden announced Saturday it will step up insurance checks on foreign ships in a move aimed at tightening controls on Russia s so-called shadow fleet of aging ships The executive in Stockholm explained that starting July the coast guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration will be tasked with collecting insurance information not just from ships that call at Swedish ports but also those that pass through the country s territorial waters and specific economic zone This underlines Sweden s clear presence in the Baltic Sea which in itself has a deterrent effect Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson disclosed in a comment It also provides Sweden and our allies with significant information about vessels that can be used as a basis for sanctions listings of more vessels in the shadow fleet Russia uses its shadow fleet to travel oil and gas or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain The European Union has now targeted almost of the ships in total in sanctions packages largest part lately on May Kristersson explained that we are seeing more and more problematic events in the Baltic Sea and this requires us not only to hope for the best but also to plan for the worst The average age of the vessels is around years meaning they re near the end of their lifespan and are more vulnerable to accidents especially if they re not well-maintained Source