According to information from Swedish authorities, Coast Guard personnel, along with the police, conducted an operation aboard the tanker and initiated an investigation. It was revealed that the vessel is not registered in the Comoros registry, which raises suspicions of a false flag.
The tanker Sea Owl I is on the European Union's sanctions list. Swedish authorities noted that the risk assessment indicates a high likelihood of safety violations on board, which prevents the vessel from continuing its voyage.
According to Swedish services, in recent years, the tanker has been involved in transporting petroleum products between Russia and Brazil. At the time of detention, there was no cargo on board, and, as reported by the media, the vessel was heading from Brazil to Russia.
This is already the second case of detaining a vessel with similar suspicions in a short period of time. Earlier, Swedish authorities arrested the vessel Caffa, which was also suspected of using a false flag. According to AP and Reuters, it was under sanctions from Ukraine and had a predominantly Russian crew.
