Swedish maritime authorities conducted their second vessel seizure operation within days, taking control of a suspicious tanker in Baltic Sea waters on Thursday.
The 228-meter vessel Sea Owl I, displaying Comorian registration, was intercepted by coast guard officials who believe the ship was operating under fraudulent documentation. Maritime authorities suspect the tanker lacks legitimate state registration.
The intercepted vessel appears on multiple international sanctions lists, including those maintained by European Union member nations.
Daniel Stenling, who serves as deputy operations chief for Sweden’s coast guard, explained the decision to intervene. “The threats to maritime safety and the environment are too high,” Stenling stated. “Therefore, there is reason to intervene against the vessel.”
Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin indicated through social media that authorities believe the tanker belongs to Russia’s covert maritime operations network.
The enforcement action occurred in waters near Trelleborg, a coastal community in southern Sweden.
This incident follows a similar operation last Friday when Swedish officials boarded another vessel, the Caffa, which was displaying Guinean registration documentation. That seizure also took place in waters adjacent to Trelleborg.
