Swedish Coast Guard Boards Tanker Sea Owl I on False Flag Suspicion

Swedish Coast Guard officers boarded the tanker Sea Owl I on Thursday evening, with police support, amid suspicions the vessel was operating under a false flag. The ship is now at anchor south of Trelleborg as multiple criminal investigations proceed.

Sea Owl I and a second vessel, the cargo ship Caffa, are both suspected of displaying false flags and of failing to meet seaworthiness standards. Caffa has been anchored in the same area for approximately one week. Sweden's Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) has issued a prohibition of use against Caffa, barring the vessel from continuing its voyage until identified deficiencies are rectified. No equivalent order has yet been confirmed for Sea Owl I.

Flag states for both vessels have not been publicly confirmed. Positions were reported as south of Trelleborg in Swedish territorial waters.

The investigations, led by a prosecutor, cover suspected offences including deficient seaworthiness, aggravated use of false documents, and additional violations of the Swedish Maritime Act. No arrests have been publicly confirmed at this stage.

Both vessels had been operating in the southern Baltic Sea prior to intervention. Detailed AIS movement history has not been released.

"The maritime sector should know that we maintain order at sea and act to increase safety for those operating in our waters. Those who violate this order should know that we will intervene when conditions allow," said Daniel Stenling, Deputy Chief of Operations at the Swedish Coast Guard.

Investigations are ongoing under prosecutorial direction.