On Wednesday 30 September, European satellite surveillance detected a suspected oil spill at sea, in the shipping lane south-east of Gotland. The Swedish Coast Guard sent both aircraft and vessels to the position. By Thursday morning, however, there was no longer any trace of the spill.

The Coast Guard's aircraft arrived first. It confirmed that the spill appeared to consist of oil in the shipping lane that passes south-east of Gotland in the Swedish economic zone.

The necessary resources were mobilised during the afternoon and evening. Two vessels with oil recovery capability headed for the area, in case it would be possible to respond to the spill.

The Coast Guard has started a preliminary investigation into a suspected offence against the act on measures to prevent pollution from vessels (lagen om åtgärder mot förorening från fartyg). There is currently no suspect.

On Thursday morning the spill was no longer visible, so it could not be dealt with. The Coast Guard's aircraft have not been able to detect oil on or near land. They will continue to monitor the area on Thursday and over the coming days.

Relevant authorities and organisations on land have been kept informed about the spill.

– We have established routines and channels of information for when we detect oil at sea that risks reaching land or affecting the marine environment or shipping. Oil spill preparedness is a joint effort, and it has worked as intended, says Christian Carlsson, watch officer at the Coast Guard's command centre.

Heightened vigilance remains in place in the sea areas concerned, so that any oil from the spill can be detected. The Coast Guard is keeping vessels and aircraft in the area and is sharing information and situation pictures on an ongoing basis with the relevant actors on land.

A close-up of a piece of fabric with water on it.
The spill as it looked when it was discovered, photographed from the Swedish Coast Guard aircraft KBV 501.