A troubling pattern of armed Russian personnel operating aboard tankers passing through Danish waters is coming to light, with new reporting revealing direct confrontations between these individuals and Danish maritime pilots.
According to Danish investigative media Danwatch, two Danish pilots who boarded the tanker Marathon near Gedser, Denmark, last October encountered a Russian mercenary on board in what was described as an incident that “almost ended badly.” The report sheds light on a broader and escalating phenomenon involving shadow fleet vessels transiting Scandinavian waters.
Armed and in Uniform on the Bridge
Danish State Pilotage Danpilot confirmed the scale of the issue in a statement to Danwatch. “There are more and more reports of ships carrying a few extra crew members — presumably Russian — who are wearing military uniforms, staying on the bridge, and actively photographing bridge crossings, among other things,” the organisation wrote in an email cited by the publication.
The presence of individuals in military uniforms conducting what appears to be surveillance activity during routine pilotage operations represents a significant departure from normal maritime practice. Pilots boarding vessels for navigational assistance through Danish straits would not ordinarily expect to encounter armed or uniformed personnel monitoring their movements.
Danwatch reports that authorities have remained silent on the matter, raising questions about how incidents of this nature are being handled at a governmental level.
Does This Matter to You?
This development carries clear weight for those operating in or around Danish and Baltic waters. Shadow fleet vessels have long been a concern for port state control authorities, insurers, and maritime risk assessors — but the reported presence of military-uniformed personnel actively surveilling navigational operations introduces a new layer of complexity.
For those involved in pilotage, vessel inspection, port approach planning, or any form of transit through Danish straits, the Danwatch reporting points to a risk environment that extends beyond the mechanical and environmental hazards typically associated with aging, opaquely owned tankers. The apparent silence from authorities, as noted by Danwatch, may also affect how incidents are reported and documented going forward.
P&I clubs and underwriters tracking shadow fleet exposure may find this reporting relevant as it raises questions about crew composition, vessel control, and the conditions under which maritime professionals are boarding these ships.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: ShippingWatch (reporting on Danwatch)
