Vetluga

The Russian captain of the 'Sea Owl I' has been remanded until April 10. The man, who was suspected of using a false document, a felony, opposed continued detention, but the Malmö District Court agreed with the prosecutor. The tanker was boarded by police and the Coastguard outside Trelleborg on March 12. The was is on the EU's sanctions list. In recent years, it, has transported oil products between Russia and Brazil. Six days earlier, the bulk carrier 'Caffa' was boarded, and this ship's Russian captain is also in custody, suspected of the same crime. Both ships remained anchored close to each other off Trelleborg as of March 27. Report with photo: https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/9ppo75/rysk-befalhavare-fran-bordat-fartyg-omhaktas

The crew on board the 'Caffa', which remained detained off Trelleborg, was allegedly running out of both food and fresh water. The situation was described as critical in an urgent letter from the Russian Consul General in Stockholm. The consul called on the Swedish authorities to immediately ensure access to provisions and referred to international regulations, while the Swedish authorities have previously stated that there was nothing to prevent the ship from receiving provisions on board. The crew has initally received limited help from the Seamen's Church in Malmö. An Estonian company was reportedly willing to deliver supplies to the ship. The 'Caffa' was boarded d by the Swedish Coast Guard on March 6, suspected of being part of the Russian shadow fleet, and the captain was subsequently detained on suspicion of, among other things, violating maritime regulations, safety regulations and using false documents.

The deficiencies on board the seized 'Caffa' have proven so serious that the Swedish Transport Agency has decided on a sailing ban. The vessel may not continue its voyage until the deficiencies have been rectified. The ship remained stationary off Trelleborg, since being joined by the seized tanker 'Sea Owl I', in pos. 55° 20' N 013° 05' E as of March 16 with the Swedish patrol vessel 'KBV 003' (IMO: 9380465) nearby.

As of March 13, the 'Caffa' remained stationary at its anchorage in pos. 55° 20' N 013° 05' E off the port of Trelleborg. The Coast Guard remained available to act on the prosecutor's directives in the ongoing preliminary investigation. The vessel was no longer being detained by the Coast Guard, but subject to an international sailing ban, decided by the Swedish Transport Agency, which means that the vessel may not be used or leave port or anchorage until the identified deficiencies have been addressed and the Swedish Transport Agency has verified that the vessel met the applicable safety requirements. The preliminary investigation was led by a prosecutor. The Coast Guard was taking investigative measures according to the directives issued by the prosecutor. What measures may be taken, and if so when, was decided by the prosecutor. The master of the 'Caffa' has been arrested since the evening of March 7. The person was a Russian citizen and arrested for using a false document, a serious crime. The 'Caffa' had had previously carried a cargo of grain, but was unloaded at the time of the interception. On March 12, the Coast Guard boarded the shadow tanker 'Sea Owl I' (IMO: 9321172) off Trelleborg too on its way to Russia. Report swith photos: https://www.kustbevakningen.se/nyheter/kustbevakningen-kvar-vid-caffa/ https://www.kustbevakningen.se/en/more-news/another-intervention-against-a-false-flagged-vessel/s

The "Ufa" has been damaged after alliding with the West Pier in Ayr at 13:30 on May 8, 2013, whilst coming from Klaipeda. No one was injured and no pollution was caused, but the ship suffered a hole above the waterline. The Troon lifeboat and Ayr Coastguard Rescue Team were called but were not required. The "Ufa" anchored off the coast before entering the Garvel Clyde Shipyard at Greenock on May 9 at 1.50 p.m. for repairs. Report with photo: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/greenock/articles/2013/05/10/456907-vessel-repairs-after-collision/

On Dec 29 at 2.30 a..m. on the Westerscheldt the "Ufa" and the Marshall Islands flagged cargo m/v San Remo II", (IMO: 9146053) were in collision in dense fog. The "San Remo II" was underway from the Terneuzen locks to Wielingen without cargo when it was hit by the "Ufa" which came from Antwerp and was underway towards the East gat. The latter suffered damages on six metres length at the starboard bow, the unloaded vessel a holed ballast water tank and a damage of one metre length six metres above the water line on port side. Both ships anchored off Flushing for inspections.