Intensive investigation work on Sea Owl I

Vessels that do not follow national and international law, and that choose to break international agreements, pose a high risk to shipping in Swedish waters, our fairways and harbours, and not least to the environment. For this reason, the Swedish Coast Guard has decided to intervene in two cases.

− Shipping must know that we maintain order at sea and act to improve safety for everyone who works on our seas. Anyone who breaks this order must know that we will intervene when the conditions are met, says Daniel Stenling, Deputy Head of Operations at the Coast Guard.

Sea Owl I is on the EU sanctions list

The Coast Guard has intervened against suspected offences under the Swedish Maritime Code (sjölagen), with the aim of protecting safety on our seas. The operation targeted vessels suspected of flying a false flag and of not being seaworthy. Sea Owl I is on the EU sanctions list.

In the case of Caffa, the deficiencies on board the vessel proved so serious that the Swedish Transport Agency has issued a prohibition on use. The vessel is not allowed to continue its voyage until the deficiencies have been remedied. It is not possible to say today whether the Swedish Transport Agency will also issue such a prohibition for Sea Owl I.

The investigations are extensive

The criminal investigations concern offences relating to lack of seaworthiness and use of a false document, a serious offence, and further offences under the Swedish Maritime Code. They are led by prosecutors in Malmö. The Coast Guard carries out the investigative measures that the prosecutor instructs it to carry out. Much of the information about the suspected offences is covered by preliminary investigation confidentiality. For this reason, the authorities can give only limited information. The prosecutor will return with more information when the investigations have reached a stage where more can be said.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority updates the information about both investigations regularly on its website.

Cooperation with the police's national task force began in 2006

The Coast Guard's national boarding team has well-established and well-functioning cooperation with the Swedish Police Authority and the national task force for special operations in the maritime environment. It is natural to use this cooperation in events that may become complex and risky.

The Coast Guard has no further information about the operation and the investigation at present.