Government initiates mandatory halting of suspicious tankers in its exclusive economic zone
The Dutch government has submitted a bill to parliament to strengthen measures against Russian shadow fleet vessels evading international sanctions. The initiative was prepared by relevant ministries to counter the circumvention of trade restrictions. This was reported by Government of the Netherlands, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The legislative proposal has been sent to the House of Representatives of the Dutch parliament. The new regulations were developed by Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Vincent Karremans, Minister of Defence Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, and Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel.
New powers in the maritime zone
The changes involve amending the Foreign Vessels Act to expand enforcement capabilities against vessels sailing without flags or with false registrations. If adopted, authorities will be able to intercept such ships within the Netherlands Exclusive Economic Zone and order them to divert to anchorages or ports for inspection.
The measures allow for vessels to be impounded and captains to be arrested during inspections. Additionally, the maximum prison sentence for flying a false kingdom flag will be increased to four years.
Security of North Sea critical infrastructure
The Council of State previously issued urgent advice on the legislative proposal, confirming its compatibility with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beyond transporting oil, aging tankers can be utilized for espionage or sabotage operations near European shores.
The North Sea contains vital infrastructure critical for the Netherlands, including wind farms, drilling platforms, and data and power cables. Uninsured vessels also pose environmental hazards due to the potential inability to recover costs from accidents.
Illustrative photo: Ank Kumar / CC BY-SA 4.0
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