Investigation Reveals Safety Issues with Oil Tankers
An investigation by the Irish Times shows that over 70% of sanctioned oil tankers passing through Irish waters have serious safety issues. The report states that nearly a quarter of these vessels, part of the shadow fleet, have been detained by port authorities at least once for poor safety records. This situation raises environmental concerns for the Irish west coast, where these aging tankers operate.
The shadow fleet includes hundreds of vessels that transport sanctioned Russian oil. Many of these ships are registered in countries with weak inspection standards. Data from Starboard Marine Intelligence shows that 218 shadow fleet vessels have traveled through Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) this year. Of these, 208 are under EU sanctions. This marks a 192% increase in shadow fleet traffic compared to last year. This rise is linked to UK threats to seize these vessels in the English Channel.
Security officials have raised concerns about the risks from these vessels. They have been involved in espionage and sabotage activities. However, the environmental risks are especially urgent. Many of these tankers, including the Myra, have serious defects, such as fire hazards and poor pollution control measures. The Myra, connected to a shipping company with ties to Iran, has been cited for ten serious defects since 2020. This raises worries about possible environmental disasters in the area.
Related coverage: Two Oil Tankers and Tugboat Catch Fire in Strait of Hormuz.
The rise in shadow fleet activity could lead to increased regulatory scrutiny and possible sanctions on related shipping companies. This may impact oil supply chains. The environmental risks could also affect marine industries and local economies along the Irish coast.
Watch for further investigations into the safety of these vessels and possible regulatory actions by Irish authorities in response to these findings.
Based on reporting by: irishtimes.com