EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas warns of the threat of a large-scale oil disaster off European coastlines due to the so-called Russian shadow fleet. Kallas made the statement to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, UNN reports.
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According to her, these vessels are "environmental time bombs" because they are often old, poorly maintained and lack adequate insurance coverage.
Over the past few months, the EU has conducted six inspections as part of the fight against the shadow fleet. Each such inspection on board a vessel costs Russia time and money, the EU's foreign policy chief explained.
At the same time, she said, diplomatic measures exert the greatest pressure on Moscow. In particular, at the EU's request, African countries removed hundreds of vessels from their ship registries.
Losing its flag makes a tanker more vulnerable to inspections and detention, and also makes authorities, insurers, banks and traders hesitant to do business with it
The EU has so far imposed sanctions on approximately 670 vessels.
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