Germany Tightens Baltic Checks to Thwart Russian Shadow Fleet

Germany on 1 July intensified its campaign against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” by ordering additional inspections of oil tankers traversing the Baltic and North seas and obliging them to present proof of insurance coverage. Berlin said the measures are designed to stop ageing, often poorly insured vessels from bypassing Western sanctions on Russian crude exports and to reduce the environmental risks they pose. Maritime authorities have begun asking ships sailing eastward through the Fehmarn strait—a narrow passage between Denmark and Germany—for documentation of liability insurance. Vessels that fail to comply face possible detention and could be proposed for inclusion on EU sanctions lists, the foreign ministry said. The move aligns Germany with similar rules that took effect in Sweden on 1 July and forms part of broader efforts by EU and G7 nations to tighten enforcement of the price cap on Russian oil. Berlin added that it is coordinating its inspections with Baltic neighbours to ensure uniform application of the new controls.