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 regime in Stockholm commented 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 particular economic zone This underlines Sweden s clear presence in the Baltic Sea which in itself has a deterrent effect Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced in a report It also provides Sweden and our allies with pivotal 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 majority of in recent months on May Kristersson reported 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