HELSINKI, April 22, 2026 - Finland is stepping up efforts to safeguard its coastline from the growing risk of oil spills linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” by installing a permanent oil containment system. Report BSS/AFP
The Nordic country has repeatedly raised concerns about ageing and often uninsured vessels operating in the Baltic Sea to bypass Western sanctions.
According to the John Nurminen Foundation, metal rings will be fixed into the bedrock of islands across the eastern Gulf of Finland. These will allow rapid deployment of oil containment booms to prevent spills from reaching shorelines and sensitive ecosystems.
The initiative, titled “Bolt it for the Baltic Sea!”, is being carried out in cooperation with Finnish authorities.
Jukka Pekka Lumilahti, head of rescue operations at the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard, warned that the risk of an environmental disaster remains high due to disruptions in maritime navigation systems.
Frequent GPS interference has complicated navigation, while vessels in the shadow fleet often switch off their tracking systems, increasing accident risks.
The threat has also been heightened by recent drone attacks linked to the Ukraine conflict on Russian oil ports such as Primorsk and Ust-Luga.
Experts caution that any collision or grounding of a tanker could release thousands of tonnes of crude oil, posing severe risks to the fragile marine ecosystem of the Baltic region.
