More than half of the tankers of the “shadow fleet” of the aggressor country, Russia, may be in a dangerous technical condition and pose a threat of a serious environmental disaster. The Financial Times reported this on May 31.
GMS Partnership CEO Anil Sharma told the FT that a major oil spill similar to the 1979 accident when the SS Atlantic Empress and Aegean Captain collided, causing more than 2 million barrels of oil to spill into the sea, could soon occur.
In his opinion, at least a third of the ships should be scrapped,
According to broker Clarksons, there are about 1.8 thousand vessels in the “shadow fleet”, of which approximately 1.5 thousand are oil vessels. Most of them are over 20 years old.
Owners of sanctioned vessels are trying to extend their lifespan as much as possible due to the profitability of oil trading amid the crisis in the Persian Gulf, explains the FT.
The head of the shipping company CMB Tech, Alexander Saveris, said that these ships are often not insured. They are also poorly maintained and have unqualified crew on board.
According to him, the disaster “will happen sooner or later.”
Saveris added that “this is a ticking time bomb.”
