Swedish authorities have boarded the tanker Flora 1 after detecting a 12km oil slick in the Baltic Sea, linking it to a vessel potentially violating sanctions.
Oil Spill Detection and Initial Response
Swedish services reported observing a 12-kilometer-long oil slick on Thursday, traced back to the tanker Flora 1, which had departed from a port in the Gulf of Finland.
The Coast Guard currently sees no immediate threat of the oil reaching land and is prepared to take cleanup measures if necessary, according to Swedish Minister of Civil Defence Carl-Oscar Bohlin.
Russian Tanker Fleet Poses a Threat
Minister Bohlin stated that the Russian fleet, comprised of older, poorly insured tankers attempting to evade sanctions, represents a significant threat to both security and the environment.
Despite the incident not being a large-scale oil spill, the government is treating it seriously.
Leak Estimate and Potential Consequences
The Coast Guard estimates the leak to be between 1.7 and 18 cubic meters. A larger spill could have catastrophic consequences for Swedish marine ecosystems and coastlines, Bohlin added.
Boarding and Investigation
Following the observation of the oil slick, the Coast Guard and police compelled the captain of the Flora 1 to anchor near Ystad. Authorities have boarded the vessel to conduct an investigation.
The Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into suspected environmental pollution in the Baltic Sea, with the possibility of additional charges related to the ship’s unclear flag status. There are 24 people on board the ship.
Sanctions and Previous Incidents
MarineTraffic data indicates the Flora 1 was traveling from Primorsk, Russia, to Santos, Brazil. The detention of the Flora 1 marks the first instance where a pollution emission has been linked to a sanctioned vessel.
In March, Swedish authorities detained the Caffa and Sea Owl 1 near Trelleborg, suspecting their Russian captains of using a false flag. Both captains were arrested.
Reporting Information
Reported by Daniel Zyśk from Stockholm.