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The Swedish Coast Guard boarded the tanker Flora 1 on April 3 after discovering a 12-kilometre oil slick east of the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. The vessel was found to be listed on EU sanctions and was escorted to anchorage near Ystad in southern Sweden.
Flora 1 had departed a port in the Gulf of Finland prior to the incident. The vessel's flag status was described as unclear at the time of boarding. The origin and volume of the discharge have not been confirmed.
Swedish authorities described the case as the first time Sweden has linked a Baltic Sea pollution incident directly to a vessel already subject to EU sanctions. A criminal investigation into an environmental crime has been launched.
No crew injuries were reported. The extent of environmental impact from the oil slick is under assessment.
The incident adds to a growing pattern of suspected shadow fleet vessels operating in Baltic waters with irregular flag status and documentation, following recent boardings of Sea Owl I and Caffa south of Trelleborg in March.
She has now resumed her voyage. The criminal investigation is ongoing under Swedish prosecutorial direction.
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