Finland discovered insurance on tankers with Russian oil

Since December 11, the Finnish authorities have been requesting insurance from tankers transporting Russian oil through the country's economic zone in the Baltic Sea. In November, the European Parliament called for tighter control over the tanker fleet, as Russia's oil export revenues are not declining, as the EU would like. Brussels. However, so far the Finnish agency has found that all tankers have valid insurance.

All tankers carrying Russian oil from the Baltic ports respond to requests from the Finnish authorities and provide information about insurance. This was told to the STT agency by the director of the Finnish shipping regulator Traficom, Sanna Sonninen.

"And everyone has valid insurance," she said.

The head of the regulator explained that insurance information on tankers carrying Russian oil in the Gulf of Finland is requested by means of a message, for example, by e—mail, and, if necessary, by radio. Information on liability insurance certificates is received within the framework of standard interaction between vessels and transport authorities of the countries through whose waters they pass.

"Vessels are first asked via messages and, if necessary, via VHF radio during normal registration, whether they have a valid CLC insurance certificate," said Sanna Sonninen.

International law ensures freedom of navigation in neutral waters, which are also the economic zones of countries. At the same time, shipowners are responsible for the transportation of cargoes such as oil and are required to have insurance coverage in case of leakage and elimination of consequences.

In December 2022 The EU banned the import of Russian oil and, together with the G7 countries, introduced a ceiling on raw material prices for third countries, prohibiting its own companies from providing any transportation services in case of violation of the limit.

The restrictions led to the emergence of many new little-known shipowners, whose tankers offset the effect of restrictions and allowed Russian exporters to bypass the price ceiling.

This situation has disappointed the EU, which seeks to reduce Russia's revenues. In the outgoing year, Brussels adopted several packages of sanctions, in which it imposed restrictions on more than 70 tankers. The EU calls for blocking the straits through which tankers go from the Baltic ports of Russia, but the actions of the European Union are limited by international law.

"The European Parliament calls for more targeted measures against these vessels in the next EU sanctions packages, including all vessels, as well as their owners, operators, managers, accounts, banks and insurance companies. It also requires the systematic imposition of sanctions against vessels passing through the waters The EU is without known insurance, and calls for The EU will expand its surveillance capabilities, especially through unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite monitoring, as well as conduct targeted inspections at sea," the European Parliament said in a November statement.

The Finnish regulator Traficom has started checking insurance certificates for tankers with Russian oil since December 11. As emphasized by Sanna Sonninen, there is no talk of direct contact — the entry of inspectors onto the ship.