ticking ecological and geopolitical

In the labyrinthine world of global shipping, a silent menace operates in the shadows, one that threatens ecological balance, undermines international law, and fuels geopolitical tensions. This “shadow fleet,” an unofficial armada of outdated and opaque oil tankers, primarily serve Russia, as well as Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, circumventing sanctions and safety standards. Yet its unchecked operations represent more than a threat to economic integrity; they are a ticking ecological and geopolitical catastrophe A recent incident near the German coast starkly illustrates these dangers. In January 2025, the Eventin, a 274-meter-long tanker carrying approximately 99,000 tonnes of Russian oil, lost power and steering in the Baltic Sea near the island of Rügen. German maritime authorities deployed tugboats to secure the vessel, narrowly averting an environmental disaster in one of Europe’s most sensitive marine ecosystems. This near-catastrophe, which required urgent action to stabilize the aging tanker, underscores the profound risks posed by the shadow fleet’s growing reliance on outdated and unregulated vessels. สล็อตเว็บตรง