The European Commission has adopted a new measure to strengthen maritime security by tightening rules on vessels transiting European Union waters. Under the latest amendment to the Vessel Monitoring Directive, all vessels—regardless of whether they dock at EU ports—must now provide insurance information before entering EU waters.
“This new requirement will boost the EU’s ability to track and, if needed, investigate shipping activity, especially from uninsured or potentially dangerous vessels,” the Commission said in a statement.
Magda Kopczyńska, the EU’s Director-General for Mobility and Transport, described the update as “a targeted measure with potentially great impact, enhancing the preparedness of the EU’s coastal states.”
The rule change is part of a broader effort to address the growing threat posed by the so-called “shadow fleet”—a group of aging and often uninsured ships operating outside the scope of international regulations. Many of these vessels are believed to be linked to sanctioned countries, including Russia.
By the end of last year, more than 1,000 ships had been targeted by sanctions. Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence revealed that over 800 of these vessels lack verified insurance. The average age of the sanctioned fleet is 21 years—about eight years older than the global average—raising concerns about their safety and environmental risks.
The crackdown comes after several near-disasters involving older vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, and recent incidents where subsea communication cables were damaged by ships dragging their anchors.
In response, European nations have stepped up efforts to monitor and counter these risks. NATO and Baltic states launched Operation Baltic Sentry in January to detect and deter undersea sabotage.
Meanwhile, since February, the Danish Maritime Authority has conducted port state inspections on tankers seen as high risk near Skagen, a major anchorage in northern Denmark.
Also this year, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) activated Operation Nordic Warden, a surveillance program that uses AI to analyze data from various sources—including ships’ AIS signals—to assess potential threats. The JEF is a Northern European defense partnership focused on regional security.
Earlier this month, Estonia made headlines by detaining an 18-year-old tanker sailing under a false flag—the first time a Baltic nation has taken such a step against the Russian shadow fleet.
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