Flora-1

Sweden has released the ' Flora 1', which was suspected of causing a 12-kilometre oil spill in the Baltic Sea, after the authorities had completed initial checks and questioned the crew. The Coast Guard had taken the vessel, along with its 24 crew members, to an anchorage near Ystad in southern Sweden. They acted after detecting the discharge as part of increased maritime surveillance in the Baltic region. The crew had been questioned, and two of thrm were informed they were suspected of environmental offences. However, no one was detained. The investigations carried out since the morning of April 3 have shown that environmental violations could not be proven. The Public Prosecutor's Office had also raised suspicions of lack of seaworthiness according to the Maritime Act, based on the ship's unclear flag state. The ship has changed its name and flag state several times in recent years. On April 4, however, Cameroon confirmed that the ship is registered in their maritime register. That investigation has therefore also been closed. If there is no legal basis for continuing the preliminary investigation, the ship could not longer be detained. In addition, there is a flag state. The Coast Guard was critical of the lack of clarity regarding the ship's flag. This is not how shipping is supposed to work. The flag at the stern should match the information that is easily available for the authorities to access. Being open with information about ships makes it easier to clarify the ship's obligations, but also its rights and freedoms. The spill took place within Sweden’s economic zone, which limits the legal actions that can be taken. The necessary interviews had been completed, and no further measures, such as detention, would be taken at this stage. An investigation into a suspected environmental crime has been opened and was still ongoing. Report with photo: https://www.kustbevakningen.se/nyheter/flora-i/

On April 3, 2026, Swedish authorities have intercepted and detained the shadow tanker 'Flora 1', enroute from the Russian port Primorsk to Santos witha cargo ofcrude and 24 crewmembersonboard, south of Ystad following an oil spill in the Baltic Sea. The Coast Guard boarded the suspected false flag vessel in the early morning. After an oil pollution was notified by a surveillance aircraft east of Gotland in the morning of April 2, the ship came into the focus, and it was found that the ship is on the EU sanctions list and that several unclear circumstances surrounding the ship, including its flag status, were present. In the operation Klöver, the Coast Guard has brought the ship to anchorage outside Ystad. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Police Authority. The vessel was detained, suspected of environmental violations following an oil spill east of Gotland, in the Swedish economic zone. The intervention has taken place in collaboration with the relevant authorities and a preliminary investigation was now underway under the leadership of prosecutors. The vessel has leaked up to 18 m³ of oil near Gotland. It was moored in pos. 55° 21' N 013° 44 E. Report with photos: https://www.kustbevakningen.se/nyheter/fartyg-under-sanktioner-misstanks-ha-orsakat-utslapp-av-olja-i-ostersjon/