Sweden Says Ship Seized in Baltic Sea Had False Flag

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A photo of the vessel's capture, posted online by Swedish Minister for Civil Defence Carol-Oskar Bohlin.

Sweden has seized a ship in its Baltic Sea waters after authorities said it was sailing under a false flag and was suspected of violating maritime law and national ship safety regulations due to concerns over its seaworthiness.

According to Swedish police, one crew member has been notified of the suspected breach of national and international laws. Johan Andersson, deputy head of the police’s National Operations Department, confirmed the development during a press conference on Saturday.

Police and coast guard on Friday took control of Guinea-flagged Caffa off southern Sweden, saying it had unclear flag status and was thus suspected of being stateless, ‌and ⁠that they had launched a probe into suspected violation of maritime law.

"Our investigation so far strengthens our suspicions and our opinion that this ship ⁠has extensive sea safety deficiencies," Andersson said on Saturday.

"We also have information that the vessel would be on ⁠the Ukraine sanctions list," he added.

Most of the 11 crew members on Caffa, which ⁠according to ship-tracking service MarineTraffic is a 96-meter general cargo ship, were Russian, Andersson said.

“The vessel is on the Ukraine sanctions list. Information indicates that it has essentially been used to transport grain that is stolen, as we understand it, from Ukraine,” Daniel Stenling, the Swedish coast guard’s acting head of operations, told a press conference.

“We have been able to establish that the vessel is sailing under a false flag. She is registered in Guinea, but that registration is in fact false,” he added.

The Russian embassy in Stockholm said it had been informed by the Swedish coast guard that 10 of the crew were Russian citizens.

“The Russian embassy in Sweden is in contact with the competent Swedish authorities and is ready, if necessary, to provide consular assistance to the Russian nationals among the crew,” it wrote on Telegram.

One crew member was under investigation for violation of the maritime code on seaworthiness and on ship safety, Mr Stenling said, refusing to disclose the suspect’s identity or crew role.

“The investigative measures we have taken so far reinforce our suspicions and our view that there are extensive maritime safety deficiencies on this vessel,” he said.

Sources: Reuters, AFP



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