In the wake of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) meeting with NATO allies in Helsinki on Tuesday, Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) has warned of the significant environmental risks posed by Russia’s shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea.
“The transport of oil across the world’s seas inherently carries high risks for the environment” Lemke told the “Rheinische Post” (Tuesday’s edition). “Already numerous times, including in recent history, it has come to tanker accidents with grave consequences for people, animals, and the entire environment in the affected seas, including coastal areas.”
The Russian shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea exacerbates this problem and poses an additional risk to the marine environment and, consequently, to the well-being of all Baltic Sea coastal residents, the Greens politician emphasized. “Russia takes the risk of damaging the environment and tourism in the region by deploying the shadow fleet.”
In light of this, the federal government has been pushing forward with its EU partners to consistently sanction ships in the shadow fleet. “In the case of the ‘Eventin,’ which has run aground, no environmental consequences are currently expected. Once again, our gratitude goes to the Havariekommando in Cuxhaven, whose experts have once again performed outstanding work” Lemke said, looking at the tanker, which is also attributed to the shadow fleet and is currently unable to maneuver.