The Dutch government plans to take stronger action against vessels from the Russian shadow fleet sailing under false flags through the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Authorities want the power to systematically inspect such ships, escort them to an anchorage and, in extreme cases, seize them.
Legislative amendments to enable this are being drafted urgently, with the aim of submitting them to the House of Representatives before the summer.
The Russian shadow fleet consists of vessels transporting sanctioned Russian oil through opaque ownership structures. These ships are often poorly maintained, posing risks to maritime safety and the environment. They are also suspected of involvement in Russian state espionage, mapping vital subsea infrastructure such as data and power cables.
Also read: EU imposes new sanctions on Russian shadow fleet
Legal amendments needed
Within territorial waters, countries have broader powers to act against such vessels. However, many of these ships transit through the EEZ, where primary authority normally lies with the vessel’s flag state.
Ships sailing under a false flag effectively have no flag state, meaning those rules do not apply and intervention becomes possible. The Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management and of Justice and Security are therefore working swiftly on legal amendments to make action against falsely flagged vessels legally feasible.
Minister of Infrastructure Robert Tieman says: ‘Through the shadow fleet, Russia finances its war machine in Ukraine and circumvents international sanctions. That is unacceptable. Europe has already taken many steps to counter this, but more is needed. With these measures, we want to be able to take firmer action when such vessels pass through the Dutch part of the North Sea.’
