A Swedish Coast Guard patrol caught a crewmember dumping trash into the Baltic Sea, highlighting the authorities’ strict monitoring of maritime pollution.
The ship, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, had paused near Faro Island while traveling from Russia to India. A Coast Guard aircraft detected floating household trash during a routine surveillance flight on October 20. Authorities confirmed the trash came from a single crewmember and was not a ship discharge.
When the ship anchored off Gothenburg, the Coast Guard boarded and interviewed the crew. The offending crewmember admitted dumping the trash. He was fined “50 daily fines.” The exact amount was not disclosed, but under Swedish law, daily fines typically range from $5 to $100, which would be multiplied by 50 in this case.
Neither the ship nor its master was held liable. The Swedish Coast Guard permitted the bulker to proceed.
A Coast Guard spokesperson called the incident “relatively unusual,” noting that they usually respond to major discharges from ships.
Officials emphasized that, while the offense is minor, it demonstrates the high level of monitoring along Swedish waters. The effort aims to prevent pollution from shadow fleet vessels and protect the Baltic environment.
