A tanker from the Russian "shadow fleet" is involved in a collision near Skagen/Denmark and once again throws a spotlight on known risks: ships on the world's oceans with unknown owners and maintenance conditions as well as a lack of insurance.
Such ships for the transport of Russian crude oil and other oil products were purchased in order to circumvent the sanctions imposed by the USA, the European Union and the G7 group (oil price cap). Although there is no evidence of pollution from the collision with the apparently unladen tanker, it is a renewed warning of the risks that the "shadow fleet" also brings to European waters. According to industry estimates, this fleet consists of up to 600 ships.
What is known
The accident, involving an unnamed ship and the 15-year-old crude oil tanker "Andromeda Star" (250 metres, 115,000 tonnes) with a capacity of 700,000 barrels of oil, occurred on 2 March 2024. The ship was on its way to the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk to load Ural crude oil. It has been lying off Odense/Funen for repairs since 17 March. The case is being investigated, according to the Danish Maritime Authority, without giving further details.
The ship is managed by "Margao Marine Solutions OPC" based in Goa/India and sails under the flag of Panama.
Emptied crude oil tanker. Photo: Public Domain, Wikimedia Common
What was not known
The owner or owners of the "Andromeda Star" are listed in maritime databases as "reported sold undisclosed interest", including in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). This means that the actual owners of the ship have not been made public. The ship's insurer is also not easy to determine. The ship is not listed as insured on the website of the industry-standard International Group of P&I Clubs, which offers protection against risks such as leakage and collision.
First results of the investigation
The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) announced on 21 March 2024 that the "Andromeda Star" had all the necessary certificates, including insurance, but that it was considering reporting the parties involved in the accident for violating shipping regulations. The vessel will be detained by the DMA until the circumstances are clarified.
What to do
Denmark allows ships travelling to Russia free passage through its waters. The key to success could be an EU proposal that utilises Denmark's power to inspect tankers without insurance or with "questionable" insurance in its own waters and to detain or refuse passage to ships without adequate insurance and classification (TÜV).
It is therefore time to approach this important issue with more speed and find a solution quickly.
marineforum.online reported on this on 24.11.2023:
Source: gCaptain, The Maritime Executive, rigzone
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