Oil Tanker From Russian Shadow-Fleet Damaged After Collision Near Denmark

A tanker belonging to the shadow fleet of vessels assembled to transport Russia’s oil was reportedly involved in a collision near Denmark, casting insights into the risks vessels with unknown ownership pose to the world’s oceans.

The incident involving the 15-year-old oil tanker dubbed the Andromeda Star occurred on March 2, according to a statement from the Danish Maritime Authority. It claimed that the situation is still being investigated but did not provide any other information.

The vessel was initially scheduled to load Russian flagship Urals crude on March 4 at the Baltic port of Primorsk, per shipping information shared by Bloomberg.

However, it instead moved to a repair yard based in Denmark, where it reached on March 17. Even though there is no sign of environmental impact from the collision, it is yet another reminder of the significant risks the shadow fleet has on the waters of even those European nations that are no longer engaged in trade with Moscow.

As it was en route to Russia, the 700,000-barrel freighter would not have had cargo aboard. Denmark permits vessels calling at Russia to sail via its waters following a long-term freedom of navigation pact.

The Danish Straits are challenging to navigate; thus, most vessels require experienced pilots. The owners of the Andromeda Star are recorded on several marine databases, including one kept for the International Maritime Organization, as it sold an undeclared interest, indicating that the vessel’s actual owners are unknown to the public.

The vessel is managed by Margao Marine Solutions OPC, based in Goa. The company did not respond to a request for comments and does not have a listed phone number.

The insurers are likewise unknown, and it is not mentioned as protected on the International Group of P&I Clubs website, which provides coverage for hazards such as spills or crashes.

Following several sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, and the Group of Seven Nations, Russia established its shadow fleet to keep oil supplies flowing. Some industry estimates have mentioned that the fleet amounts to almost 600 vessels.

Reference: BNNBloomberg

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