Die Story im Ersten
The Tanker Trail: Who Will Stop Russia's Shadow Fleet?
2025 • E13 Jun 23, 2025 44m
In shipping circles, they are known as “rust buckets” - an estimated several hundred aging oil tankers that make up the so-called Russian shadow fleet. Suspected of violating EU sanctions, these vessels continue to transport hazardous cargo through the Baltic Sea every day, including along Germany's coastline. Their operations help finance Russia's war effort. Yet the fleet has also proven profitable for other players in the global market. In this ARD Story, NDR journalists Lennart Banholzer and Simon Hoyme investigate locations around the world to explore why Western governments have so far failed to bring the shadow fleet under effective control.