Swedish Coast Guard Boards and Detains Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker Jin Hui off Trelleborg

Sweden's Coast Guard and police jointly boarded and detained the tanker Jin Hui in Swedish territorial waters south of Trelleborg on May 3, in the country's fifth shadow fleet intervention in recent weeks. The 182-metre vessel was towed to port for investigation.

Jin Hui is currently claiming Syrian registration, but Equasis records confirm the flag registration is false. The vessel appears on the EU, UK, and Ukrainian sanctions lists. Eight deficiencies were recorded at its most recent port state control inspection in Turkey, covering the oil record book, fire alarms, fire doors, and auxiliary engine. The vessel was suspected of unseaworthiness and lack of insurance.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed the boarding publicly, framing it as part of Sweden's sustained enforcement campaign against shadow fleet vessels operating in Baltic waters.

Jin Hui has previously traded under the names Yi Bao and Celsius Roskilde. The pattern of multiple name changes, false flag registration, and sanctions listings is consistent with vessels operating in Russian oil trade under deliberate concealment.

The boarding follows recent Swedish interventions against Sea Owl I, Caffa, Flora 1, and Hui Yuan in the same waters. Criminal investigation and damage assessment are ongoing under Swedish prosecutorial direction.