UK Leads European Initiative to Combat Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’

The UK has initiated a ‘Call to Action’ at the European Political Community summit to disrupt Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, which evades international sanctions and poses security and environmental threats.

The UK, along with 44 European countries and the EU, have agreed to work together to tackle the use of illegitimate vessels, which pose significant security and environmental threats to European waterways.

The shadow fleet, comprising around 600 vessels or 10% of the global “wet cargo” fleet, transports approximately 1.7 million barrels of oil daily, significantly funding Russia’s war efforts. Some ships may also serve as Russian listening stations or transport weaponry to Russia.

During a UK Cabinet meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was expected to inform Ukrainian President Zelenskyy of intensified efforts to restrict Putin’s war machine. They will also agree on a Defence Export Support Treaty, boosting military production and providing £3.5 billion in export finance to Ukraine.

“Russia’s incremental gains on the battlefield are nothing compared with the collective international support for Ukraine or the strength of ties between our people. And alongside our European partners, we have sent a clear message to those enabling Putin’s attempts to evade sanctions: we will not allow Russia’s shadow fleet, and the dirty money it generates, to flow freely through European waters and put our security at risk,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The UK has also sanctioned several oil tankers transporting Russian oil. Among the new ships targeted is the ROCKY RUNNER (IMO 9288899), which sought to escape previous UK action by changing its operator. This follows UK action last month that halted tankers responsible for transporting approximately 13 million barrels of Russian crude and oil products since January 2023, worth approximately $930 million.

The shadow fleet, also known as the ‘dark fleet,’ poses serious maritime security and environmental risks. The vessels are often old and unsafe, engaging in dangerous and deceptive shipping practices such as turning off location tracking systems, which flouts international maritime standards and increases the likelihood of catastrophic incidents.

Echoing IMO Resolution A.1192(33), the call to action urges IMO Member States and stakeholders to prevent illegal maritime operations by the ‘shadow fleet.’ It highlights the importance of compliance with safety, liability, and environmental rules, calls on flag and port States to enforce these regulations, and encourages ship owners, operators, and the marine insurance industry to support prevention and reporting of ‘shadow fleet’ activities. The document also emphasizes the need for collective action, information sharing, and coordinated responses to mitigate risks posed by the ‘shadow fleet.’

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