Authorities in Germany are investigating a potential link between a recent swarm of drone sightings over Schleswig-Holstein and a suspect cargo ship. According to reports from “Der Spiegel”, the investigation centers on a freighter, approximately 100 meters in length, which was operating in the Baltic Sea region near Kiel around the time the drones were observed.
Security sources cited by the publication indicate that the ship’s movements, along with its communication and location data, suggest a possible connection to the drone activity. The vessel also possesses technical capabilities potentially suitable for launching and landing larger reconnaissance drones.
The ship, registered under a flag of convenience from a Caribbean nation, was reportedly positioned within a few dozen kilometers of the German coastline during the drone sightings, though remaining outside of German territorial waters.
Following its transit of the Kiel Canal, the freighter altered course eastward and subsequently docked at a port in Russia. Investigators believe the ship may be part of a so-called “shadow fleet” – vessels previously implicated in hybrid activities, including suspected espionage technology and damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea.
According to “Der Spiegel”, the ship’s crew primarily consists of Russian nationals. The ownership of the vessel is believed to be located in a Baltic state. The investigation is ongoing.