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Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has confirmed that he has begun discussions with his some of his counterparts in neighbouring countries regarding the possibility of restricting the movement of Russia's "shadow tanker fleet" in the Baltic Sea. This activity has also reportedly drawn criticism from the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen.
Mr Rasmussen told Reuters about a "broad consensus" that the shadow fleet is "an international problem" and that it requires "international solutions." However, the minister did not provide specific details on the measures that will be implemented.
Vladimir Barbin, Moscow's Ambassador to Copenhagen, refuted Mr Rasmussen's claims, adding that Denmark should not impose limits on free navigation. The ambassador told Reuters that the "sanctions that the West has imposed" and not the tankers laden with Russian oil are "the threat to the safety of navigation and the marine environment in the Baltic Sea."
Denmark is the latest Baltic littoral state that has expressed its intention to implement steps against the shadow fleet. Finland has earlier lobbied for the EU to supply an oil spill response vessel for deployment in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea, especially after the risk of oil spills in the area has grown as international sanctions have forced Russia to transport its oil with older vessels and weaker insurance coverage.
