Sweden is investigating a cargo ship that allegedly transported stolen grain with a Russian crew
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish authorities Authorities said Saturday they were investigating a cargo ship sailing in the Baltic Sea accused of carrying stolen grain.
The Swedish Coast Guard said at a press conference on Saturday that the Caffa crew was predominantly Russian and the ship was on Ukraine’s sanctions list, Swedish news agency TT reported.
According to TT, the Caffa was allegedly sailing under a false flag when Swedish authorities boarded the ship in Swedish territorial waters on Friday to conduct searches and interviews. It was sailing under the flag of Guinea.
According to TT, authorities are concerned about the seaworthiness of the ship and a criminal investigation is ongoing against one person. Other details about Caffa and his crew were not immediately available.
Sweden said last year it would do this Speed up insurance checks Russia’s so-called crackdown on foreign vessels in a move aimed at tightening controls on its vessels. “shadow fleet Obsolete ships used to transport oil and gas or transport stolen Ukrainian grain.
The average age of ships is around 18 years, which means they are nearing the end of their lifespan and are more vulnerable to accidents, especially if not well maintained.
Last year, the Stockholm government tasked the Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration with collecting insurance information not only from ships calling at Swedish ports, but also from ships passing through the country’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
Authorities did not say whether they believed Caffa was part of the shadow fleet.
