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Russia Bypasses EU Oil Sanctions
Investigation reveals Russian oil tankers bypassing EU sanctions, raising environmental and safety concerns.
Russian
Germany
Russia Ukraine WarEuropean UnionEnergy SecuritySanctionsEnvironmentOilRiskShipping
Report MainzGreenpeaceDw
- How is Russia circumventing EU sanctions on oil exports?
- Report Mainz revealed that tankers carrying Russian crude oil are directly shipping to EU ports, bypassing EU sanctions. This involves mainly Greek shipping companies using a "shadow fleet", increasing the risk of ecological disasters.
- What are the risks associated with the tankers' routes and insurance?
- The tankers' routes often pass through the Kadet Strait, a dangerous area, and many are insufficiently insured. This raises concerns about liability in case of an accident.
- What evidence was used to confirm the illegal oil shipments to the EU?
- The investigation analyzed satellite data of around 15 tankers traveling between EU and Russian ports, showing full loads leaving Russia and significantly reduced loads upon arrival in EU ports, implying delivery and sanction violation.
- What other incident highlights potential risks related to Russian shipping?
- The incident with the damaged cargo ship Ruby, carrying explosive ammonium nitrate, highlights the additional risks associated with shipping originating from Russian ports, and the refusal of European ports to accept it shows potential problems with handling emergency situations.
- What are the environmental concerns raised by the transportation of Russian oil?
- Greenpeace's research indicates that the use of older, poorly maintained tankers to transport Russian oil poses a significant environmental risk to the Baltic Sea. A potential oil spill could heavily affect coastal areas in Germany.