Swedish authorities have detained the product tanker Flora 1 on suspicion of causing an oil spill in the Baltic Sea, marking the third shadow fleet-related detention in the country within a month. The incident highlights growing enforcement pressure on sanctioned vessels operating in Northern European waters.
The Swedish Coast Guard detected an oil slick stretching at least 12 kilometres east of Gotland, estimated at around 2,000 litres. The spill is not expected to reach the coastline. Surveillance aircraft quickly identified MV Flora 1 as the suspected source, and the vessel was ordered to anchor south of Ystad for inspection.
Authorities reported “various uncertainties” regarding the tanker, including its flag status and ownership. While the vessel is currently reporting a Sierra Leone flag, maritime databases list multiple previous registries, including Cameroon, Panama, and others, raising concerns over potential flag-hopping practices.
MV Flora 1, a 50,921 DWT tanker built in 2005, is listed on both UK and EU sanctions lists and has been linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. The vessel has a history of deficiencies recorded during Port State Control inspections, including a detention in the United Kingdom and multiple safety-related findings in India. It has also been associated with ship-to-ship transfers involving Russian oil.
The tanker departed Primorsk on 31 March, declaring Santos, Brazil, as its destination. Swedish prosecutors have launched an investigation into a suspected environmental crime, with one crewmember reportedly being questioned.
This case marks the first time Swedish authorities have directly linked an oil spill to a sanctioned vessel. It follows earlier detentions in March of the general cargo vessel Caffa and the tanker Sea Owl 1, both suspected of operating under false flags.
Swedish officials say enhanced maritime surveillance in the Baltic is part of a broader response to rising regional security risks, with a focus on ensuring compliance, safety, and environmental protection.
