Denmark supports ‘shadow fleet’ RF: pilots lead tankers despite sanctions

Danish pilots help hundreds of sanctioned ships navigate the Baltic Sea.

Employees of the state-owned DanPilot service help Russian oil tankers navigate key straits between the North and Baltic Seas every day. These ships are linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” DW reported, citing Tagesschau.

Danish pilotage is essential as tankers pass through narrow shipping channels. Although pilots are not formally required to escort ships, most of them opt for this service because Danish pilots have unique access to such vessels.

One pilot shared his feelings, noting: “I feel like I’m part of the Russian war machine… everything that comes out of the ports provides funding for the war against Ukraine.”

He is also sure that the condition of the vessels often leaves much to be desired – the crews are poorly qualified, and many tankers are over 20 years old, which has become a common occurrence in the fleet.

According to NDR, one tanker from the shadow fleet can generate between $30 and $40 million annually, while its cost is approximately $12 million. Most of such vessels are purchased in Asian or Middle Eastern countries. To avoid sanctions, each tanker is registered with different companies.

It is known that there are 342 such vessels on the EU sanctions list, although their number may exceed 600, according to the Kyiv School of Economics.

Russia created this fleet in response to Western sanctions, and the tankers transport oil at market prices, violating G7 restrictions.

German and other naval vessels are merely observing the passage of these vessels, as under international maritime law, they cannot detain a tanker during “innocent passage.”

Two tankers recently collided in the Strait of Hormuz, one of which, the Adalynn, is involved in transporting Russian oil in violation of sanctions.