New Boarding of Suspected Shadow Fleet Vessel

The Swedish Coast Guard, in cooperation with police and the national task force, boarded the 228-meter tanker Sea Owl 1 on the night of March 12, 2026, southeast of Trelleborg. The vessel is suspected to be stateless and is on the EU sanctions list for transporting oil or other liquid fuels. The Coast Guard had been monitoring the ship for an extended period before the operation. Authorities confirm the ship flies the Comoros flag and has been involved in transporting oil products between Russia and Brazil. A criminal investigation has been opened concerning possible breaches of maritime safety laws. This follows a prior boarding operation involving a different shadow fleet vessel where the ship's captain was suspected of multiple crimes. The operation is part of a wider Swedish effort dubbed "Operation Black Coffee" targeting shadow fleet activities. Swedish Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin referenced "Black Coffee" in social media postings to indicate ongoing efforts.