The Suspected Shadow Fleet – This is How Long They Could Remain

It may be some time before the two vessels, which are suspected of being part of the Russian shadow fleet, are able to leave Swedish waters.

‘It will probably not happen quickly,’ says Mattias Lindholm, press officer at the Swedish Coast Guard.

The tanker Sea Owl I and the bulk carrier Caffa have been banned from operation by the Swedish Transport Agency and are currently anchored off Trelleborg.

This means they are not permitted to sail on until a number of deficiencies have been rectified.

‘From the outset, the ownership situation has been very unclear. We will need to find out who is responsible for the vessels,’ says Lindholm.

‘Could it take months?’

‘It’s very difficult to say. But because there are so many uncertainties surrounding the ownership situation, it makes it even more challenging to resolve this quickly.’

^{Cover photo: The task force and the Coast Guard heading out to the vessel Sea Owl I off Trelleborg. Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT}