Update 4 April 2026 20:17

Vessel Flora 1 is allowed to leave Sweden

The investigations carried out since Friday morning have shown that an environmental crime cannot be proven. Cameroon has also now confirmed that the vessel is registered in its shipping register. This means there is no basis for further investigative measures. Flora 1 may leave its position off Ystad.

− The suspicions will not lead to prosecution. However, the shipping industry must know that Swedish authorities work together to maintain order at sea. We act to increase maritime safety and protect the environment. If there is a suspect vessel, we take action based on the circumstances at the time, says Daniel Stenling, Deputy Head of the Coast Guard's Operations Department.

On Thursday, the crew of the Coast Guard aircraft discovered a spill of mineral oil within Sweden's economic zone. At the time, the spill was more than 12 kilometres long. The tanker Flora 1 was identified early on as a vessel of interest to the investigation.

The Coast Guard, in cooperation with the Swedish Police Authority, boarded the vessel on Friday morning and took it to an anchorage south of Ystad. A preliminary investigation and the usual investigative measures were carried out on behalf of the Swedish Prosecution Authority (Åklagarmyndigheten). They took into account the special rules that apply under international agreements in the case of discharges at sea.

On Friday, the Swedish Prosecution Authority also raised a suspicion of lack of seaworthiness under the Swedish Maritime Code (sjölagen). This was based on the vessel having an unclear flag state. The vessel has changed its name and flag state several times in recent years. On Saturday, however, Cameroon confirmed that the vessel is registered in its shipping register. This investigation has therefore also been closed.

− If there is no legal basis for a continued preliminary investigation, we do not detain vessels. There is also a flag state. We are pleased to have clarified that question, says Daniel Stenling.

The tanker Flora 1 was on its way from a port in the Gulf of Finland to an unclear destination. It now has the right to leave Swedish waters.

− The Coast Guard is critical of the fact that there are uncertainties about vessels' flags. This is not how shipping is meant to work. The flag on the stern must match the information that is easily available to the authorities. Being open about information on vessels makes it easier to clarify what obligations the vessel has, but also its rights and freedoms, says Daniel Stenling.

Questions about decisions in and about the preliminary investigations are answered by the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

---

Update 3 April 2026 18:38

Preliminary investigation opened into lack of seaworthiness on Flora 1

During the day, a suspicion of lack of seaworthiness under the Swedish Maritime Code (Sjölagen) has been raised. A prosecutor is now leading a preliminary investigation in which further investigative measures are necessary, including a search of premises. The Coast Guard continues its work according to the prosecutor's directions.

The vessel Flora 1 was boarded shortly after 07:30 on Friday morning. It is at anchor south of Ystad. There are 24 crew members on board, of various Asian nationalities. Coast Guard personnel are also on board.

Two preliminary investigations are now under way in parallel, led by different prosecutors. One concerns a suspected environmental crime and the other concerns lack of seaworthiness. In the first, two members of the crew have been formally notified of a suspicion of an offence against the Act on Measures against Pollution from Vessels (lagen om åtgärder mot förorening från fartyg). They have not been arrested.

More information in the Swedish Prosecution Authority's press release: Status report in oil spill case

Because of preliminary investigation secrecy, the Coast Guard cannot give more information about the ongoing investigation until Saturday at the earliest.

---

Published 3 April 2026 09:17 \u00A0

Sanctioned vessel boarded – suspected of oil discharge in the Baltic Sea

Early on Friday, the Swedish Coast Guard ordered the tanker Flora 1 to stop. The vessel is suspected of causing an oil spill in the Baltic Sea, east of Gotland. The Swedish Prosecution Authority is leading a preliminary investigation into a suspected environmental crime. When the spill was discovered, it was found that the vessel is on the EU sanctions list. Several other aspects of the vessel were also unclear, including its flag status.

In an operation named Klöver, the Coast Guard has taken the vessel to an anchorage off Ystad. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Swedish Police Authority.

Early on Thursday, the Coast Guard aircraft discovered a spill of mineral oil east of Gotland. At the time, the spill was more than 12 kilometres long. The tanker Flora 1 was identified early on as a vessel of interest to the investigation.

­− We act when we discover spills. This is a result of our reinforced maritime surveillance, which we carry out because of the worsened security situation in the Baltic Sea region, says Daniel Stenling, Deputy Operations Chief at the Coast Guard.

− If there is a suspect vessel, we take action and investigate offences. The shipping industry must know that we maintain order at sea and act to increase maritime safety, says Daniel Stenling.

The vessel in question was on its way from a port in the Gulf of Finland to an unclear destination. It also has an unclear flag status and is on the EU sanctions list.

− It is without doubt of interest in this context that the vessel is surrounded by various doubts, in addition to being suspected of an oil spill. The investigation will show whether this leads to further suspicions of offences, says Daniel Stenling.

Prosecutors are leading the preliminary investigation, which the Coast Guard is carrying out in close cooperation with the Swedish Police Authority. Investigative measures are now being taken on board according to the prosecutor's directions.

The vessel is loaded with oil. There are 24 crew members on board.

The Baltic Sea is an extremely sensitive ecosystem, and there is zero tolerance for discharges. Taking action against vessels that pollute is part of the Coast Guard's everyday work.

  • The offence was committed in the Swedish economic zone, outside Swedish territory. Under international agreements, the coastal state has the authority to take action against and investigate, for example, environmental crimes and fishing offences there.
  • In cases like this, the Coast Guard may order the vessel concerned to go to Swedish territorial waters to anchor, which makes the investigation easier.
  • As far as we know, this is the first time we can trace a spill to a vessel covered by sanctions, and which is therefore suspected of an environmental crime.
  • It has not been possible to combat the spill, and it is now part of the sea.