Sea Views

Sailing in the Shadows: The Hidden Tanker Trade

Ahoy Communications Ltd Season 1 Episode 20

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Shadow Fleet Exposed: Risks to Environment, Trade and Seafarers 

In this episode of Sea Views, we uncover the murky world of the Shadow Fleet - hundreds of aging tankers trading sanctioned oil under layers of secrecy and deception. With falsified registries, spoofed signals, and uninsured operations, these vessels operate beyond the reach of international law, posing enormous risks to the environment, global security, and above all, the seafarers who crew them.

Joining us is Michelle Wiese Bockmann, Senior Maritime Intelligence Analyst at Windward, who explains how the Shadow Fleet has expanded since the Russia–Ukraine conflict, why these ships are a looming environmental and humanitarian crisis, and how technology is beginning to shine a light on their hidden movements.

At the heart of this issue are people - thousands of crew working in unsafe and unregulated conditions. 

NEWS! If you love listening to us....you can also watch Sea Views episodes on YouTube at CHIRP Maritime or The Seafarers' Charity channels.

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Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here

The Seafarers' Charity
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by Ahoy Communications Ltd


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