Sweden Detains Third Ship from 'Shadow Fleet'

On April 3, 2026, the Swedish Coast Guard, alongside the Swedish police, detained a ship that falls under EU sanctions and is suspected of polluting a 12-kilometer (8-mile) area in the Baltic Sea, east of the island of Gotland.

The vessel, a chemical tanker named Flora 1, was reportedly en route from the Russian port of Primorsk to the Brazilian port of Santos, according to Swedish publication DN. The ship is currently docked off the coast of the city of Ystad, located in southern Sweden.

A prosecutor has initiated a preliminary investigation into the suspected environmental crimes. During the inspection, it was determined that the ship is on the EU sanctions list, and there are numerous uncertainties surrounding it, including the status of its flag.

“The Russian shadow fleet, consisting of old, underinsured tankers that circumvent sanctions, poses a significant threat to safety and the environment. The government takes this incident very seriously,” wrote Sweden's Minister of Civil Defense Karl-Oskar Bohlin on the social media platform X.

The vessel is surrounded by various uncertainties, in addition to the suspicion of oil pollution, according to Daniel Stenling, Deputy Head of Operations at the Coast Guard.

“Whether this indicates further criminal suspicions will be determined by the investigation,” he noted.

On board the ship is oil, along with 24 crew members, reported the Swedish Coast Guard.

The crew consists of representatives from various Asian countries, according to information from DN, which cites Coast Guard press officer Mattias Lindholm. He also mentioned that the ship will remain off the southern coast of Sweden as long as there is a legal basis for its detention.

This incident has raised concerns among environmentalists and government officials, as it highlights the risks associated with the activities of the shadow fleet, which employs old and unreliable vessels to transport oil while circumventing international sanctions.

As part of the European Union, Sweden is actively working to strengthen control over such vessels to prevent environmental disasters and ensure the safety of maritime routes. This detention is part of a broader strategy aimed at combating illegal activities at sea.