The European Union is discussing a draft joint declaration that would allow member states to more actively apply the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to counter Russia’s “shadow fleet.” This initiative aims to limit Moscow’s oil export revenues, which are used to finance the war in Ukraine, and to protect Europe’s critical underwater infrastructure.
According to Euractiv, EU countries are developing a common interpretation of UNCLOS that would give national authorities expanded powers to inspect and detain vessels suspected of threatening submarine cables, pipelines, and other infrastructure. Over the past year, there have been several incidents involving damage to underwater objects in the Baltic Sea, in which vessels linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” are suspected.
Russia’s “shadow fleet” is a network of hundreds of old tankers (estimates range from 600 to 1,400 vessels), often with unclear ownership, false flags, and minimal insurance. These vessels are used to circumvent Western sanctions on Russian oil exports, including the G7 price cap. The EU has already imposed sanctions on hundreds of such tankers: dozens of vessels appear in the latest packages of restrictions, and the total number under sanctions is approaching 560–570.
The EU diplomatic service proposes automatically adding newly identified “shadow fleet” vessels to sanctions lists to avoid delays. In addition, the possibility of amending national laws to strengthen infrastructure protection is being discussed. Some countries, such as Denmark, have already tightened controls on suspicious vessels.
Experts note that ships in the “shadow fleet” often resort to “flag hopping” (rapidly changing flags), falsifying data, and turning off AIS systems, which makes it difficult to determine their nationality and effectively renders them “stateless.” According to UNCLOS, such vessels may be subject to inspection in exclusive economic zones.
This initiative is part of broader EU efforts to tighten sanctions. New measures, including additional restrictions on 43 tankers, are expected to be approved in December. EU representatives emphasize that the goal is not only to reduce Russia’s military revenues, but also to minimize the risks of environmental disasters and sabotage.