The Norwegian government is making the monitoring of foreign oil tankers permanent. This measure requires ships in the Norwegian economic zone to report insurance details, a task carried out by the Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (Sjøfartsdirektoratet).
– The calls have provided us with valuable insight into the activities of the shadow fleet, particularly concerning unclear insurance conditions and false flagging. This knowledge is crucial for building a robust and long-term operation against the shadow fleet, says Marianne Sivertsen Næss in a press release.
On 11 August last year, Norway introduced a temporary system where foreign-registered oil tankers in the Norwegian economic zone were called upon to voluntarily provide insurance information. The practice was initially implemented for six months, but the government has now decided to extend the measure indefinitely.
Næss states that the information is requested by other countries as a basis for building evidence for listing ships. The Norwegian Coastal Administration is responsible for calling the relevant ships, while the Norwegian Maritime Authority verifies the information. The control focuses on the vessels' insurance coverage, including the validity of certificates for liability in case of oil damage (CLC certificates).
The measure is described as part of a broader effort that includes national actions and international cooperation. Norway monitors activity in its own maritime areas and shares information with neighbouring countries and allies. The country has joined the EU's sanctions against the shadow fleet and engages in dialogue with the G7 group and other coastal states. Recently, 14 coastal states around the Baltic Sea and the North Sea jointly issued a warning about increased activity within the shadow fleet, which the Nordic Defence Sector (NDS) has reported on.