The Danish government has announced stricter environmental checks on tankers close to the northern coastal town of Skagen, one of the busiest anchorages in Northern Europe.
The move comes after a rise in older ships, including Russian “shadow fleet” tankers carrying sanctioned oil, has raised fears for safety and the marine environment.
Stronger inspections on the way
From now on, inspectors from the Danish Maritime Authority and the Environment Agency will board more ships. They will check rules on waste, fuel, ballast water, scrubber discharge, and scrapping certificates.
Environment minister Magnus Heunicke said: “Older ships sailing through Danish waters pose a special risk. We will tighten control so we can act more firmly against tankers and the Russian shadow fleet.”
Sniffer tests and EU sanctions
As part of the plan, sulphur emissions from ships will also be tested with a “sniffer” system on the Great Belt Bridge until the end of the year. The results will inform international efforts to target shadow fleet tankers.
The government has allocated funds in the 2026 budget to hire additional ship inspectors. Across the EU, 444 ships are now on the sanctions list.