Latest news with #UlfKristersson
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweden tightens monitoring of Russian tankers
Sweden's government has announced tougher checks on insurers of foreign vessels to combat what is known as Russia's "shadow fleet". Source: AP news Details: Starting 1 July, the Swedish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will collect insurance data not only on ships entering Swedish ports but also on those sailing through Sweden's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. "This underlines Sweden's clear presence in the Baltic Sea, which in itself has a deterrent effect," said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. He added that the measures would also provide Sweden and its allies with valuable information about vessels, which could serve as a basis for expanding sanctions lists with more ships. Russia uses its shadow fleet to transport oil and gas, as well as stolen Ukrainian grain. The European Union has imposed sanctions on nearly 350 vessels, with the latest additions introduced on 20 May, the publication says. The average age of these vessels is around 18 years, meaning they are nearing the end of their service life and are more vulnerable to accidents, particularly if they are poorly maintained. "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 Swedish prime minister said. Background: As reported earlier, in May, the Estonian Navy attempted to stop the tanker Jaguar, which was passing through international waters in the Gulf of Finland en route to the port of Primorsk. In response to the actions of the Estonian forces, Russia sent a fighter jet which, according to Estonia's military, violated the country's airspace. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that his country would continue inspecting ships belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet" despite the recent airspace violation by a Russian fighter jet. On 18 May, Russian authorities detained a tanker in Russian territorial waters after it had left the port of Sillamäe, Estonia, carrying shale oil. The vessel was released on 19 May. Following Russia's seizure of the Green Admire oil tanker, Estonia decided to avoid the route passing through Russian territorial waters. Russia later began using warships to escort its shadow fleet tankers in the Gulf of Finland. Finland's Navy reported increased military activity in the region. It was also reported that Russia's crude oil export revenues have dropped to a two-year low amid falling prices. The average volume of Russian oil shipments was 3.39 million barrels per day over the four weeks leading up to 25 May. This was only 10,000 barrels per day less than the previous period ending 18 May, but the gross value of these shipments was the lowest since April 2023. Russia's oil export revenues fell by US$20 million, or 1%, to US$1.26 billion in the week ending 25 May. In April, Russia earned US$13.2 billion from crude oil and oil product exports – the lowest figure in nearly two years. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweden tightens maritime controls to target Russian shadow fleet
The Swedish government has introduced regulations to enhance insurance checks on foreign vessels to counter Russia's shadow fleet. Source: a statement of the Swedish government, as quoted by AP News and reported by European Pravda Details: Effective from 1 July 2025, the Swedish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration can request insurance details from vessels transiting Sweden's territorial waters or economic zone, beyond those entering ports. "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," said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Russia's shadow fleet transports oil, gas and reportedly stolen Ukrainian grain, evading Western sanctions. Background: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on 21 May that a Russian shadow fleet vessel had carried out suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland and Sweden. Polish forces intervened in the incident. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Sweden to step up insurance checks on foreign ships
STOCKHOLM, June 1, (AP): Sweden said 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 government in Stockholm said that, starting July 1, 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 exclusive economic zone. "This underlines Sweden's clear presence in the Baltic Sea, which in itself has a deterrent effect,' Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement. "It also provides Sweden and our allies with important 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 transport oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The European Union has now targeted almost 350 of the ships in total in sanctions packages, most recently on May 20. Kristersson said 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 18 years, meaning they're near the end of their lifespan and are more vulnerable to accidents, especially if they're not well-maintained.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sweden steps up rules against Russia's Baltic ‘shadow fleet'
STOCKHOLM: Sweden on Saturday announced new rules upping checks on foreign vessels in the Baltic from July 1, reinforcing a crackdown on Russia's 'shadow fleet' of tankers deployed to circumvent sanctions on its oil trade. Since the Western-led sanctions imposed after its 2022 all-out invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has been relying on hundreds of such ships, that operate under murky ownership and dodgy insurance. European governments frequently blame the vessels for damaging — deliberately or not — undersea cables, and of posing a maritime environmental threat. The Swedish government said in a statement that the new rules 'reinforce checks on foreign vessels by requiring insurance information'. It said the effort 'aims to fight against this fleet and, in so doing, improve maritime safety and environmental protection'. The Swedish coast guard and maritime authorities will be tasked with scrutinising insurance details not only of ships docking in Swedish ports, 'but also those crossing Swedish territorial waters, or its exclusive economic zone', which extends some 200 nautical miles from shore. Sweden and Finland — both of whom recently joined NATO — are alert to Baltic Sea incidents impacting energy and communication infrastructure, after several instances of damage in late 2024. 'We are seeing a growing number of concerning incidents in the Baltic Sea, which requires... us to prepare for the worst,' Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in Saturday's statement. He added that information gleaned under the new rules checking vessels would be shared with allies and could be added to databases used for sanctions enforcement. The European Union last week adopted a 17th sanctions package against Russia that targets nearly 200 vessels in the 'shadow fleet'.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Sweden steps up rules against Russia's Baltic 'shadow fleet'
Sweden on Saturday (May 31, 2025) announced new rules upping checks on foreign vessels in the Baltic from July 1, reinforcing a crackdown on Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers deployed to circumvent sanctions on its oil trade. Since the Western-led sanctions imposed after its 2022 all-out invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has been relying on hundreds of such ships, that operate under murky ownership and dodgy insurance. European governments frequently blame the vessels for damaging — deliberately or not — undersea cables, and for posing a maritime environmental threat. The Swedish government said in a statement that the new rules "reinforce checks on foreign vessels by requiring insurance information". It said the effort "aims to fight against this fleet and, in so doing, improve maritime safety and environmental protection". The Swedish coast guard and maritime authorities will be tasked with scrutinising insurance details not only of ships docking in Swedish ports, "but also those crossing Swedish territorial waters, or its exclusive economic zone", which extends some 200 nautical miles from shore. Sweden and Finland — both of whom recently joined NATO — are alert to Baltic Sea incidents impacting energy and communication infrastructure, after several instances of damage in late 2024. "We are seeing a growing number of concerning incidents in the Baltic Sea, which requires... us to prepare for the worst," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in Saturday's statement. He added that information gleaned under the new rules checking vessels would be shared with allies and could be added to databases used for sanctions enforcement. The European Union last week adopted a 17th sanctions package against Russia that targets nearly 200 vessels in the "shadow fleet".
