Sweden has released a tanker that was detained on the EU sanctions list.
The Swedish Coast Guard has announced that the tanker, the Flora 1, has been allowed to continue its journey. The tanker was detained on April 3 after a spill of oil products was discovered in the Gulf of Finland within Sweden’s exclusive economic zone.
Initially, the Swedish authorities suspected the Flora 1 of being responsible for the pollution. Additionally, the Swedish prosecutor’s office also suspected the tanker of using an unclear flag and of not meeting the requirements of maritime legislation.
However, on Saturday, Cameroon confirmed that the ship was registered in their maritime registry. Furthermore, the investigations conducted revealed that it was impossible to prove any violations of environmental laws, leading to the release of the tanker.
“The suspicions do not lead to a prosecution, but the shipping industry should know that Swedish authorities are working close together to maintain order at sea. We are acting to increase maritime safety and protect the environment. If there is a suspicious vessel, we shall intervene, based on the prevailing conditions,” said Daniel Stenling, Deputy Head of the Swedish Coast Guard’s Operations Department.
The Flora 1 is on the sanctions lists of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine for transporting Russian oil products.
