Extreme weather conditions in the Baltic Sea have led to the paralysis of key ports, including the LNG terminal in Mukran, where ice has reached a thickness of one meter. Simultaneously, the organization Greenpeace is sounding the alarm about a growing ecological threat. Since mid-December, eight ships belonging to the Russian 'ghost fleet' have repeatedly violated German territorial waters, transporting oil without proper safeguards and international oversight.

Paralysis of German Ports

Ports Lubmin, Vierow, and the Mukran terminal are blocked by ice up to 1 meter thick, preventing ship traffic.

Threat from the Ghost Fleet

Greenpeace reports on 8 unflagged tankers that have been systematically violating German waters since December, circumventing sanctions.

Russian Icebreakers in Action

In the harsh Baltic conditions, the Russian nuclear icebreaker Sibir is operating, assisting vessels trapped near Tallinn.

The navigational situation in the southern and eastern Baltic has become critical due to the most severe icing in years. In ports such as Lubmin and Vierow, fully loaded vessels have been trapped, and ice in the Greifswald Bay area has reached a thickness of one meter. Problems have also affected the strategic LNG terminal in Mukran. Companies operating in the region have already announced they will seek compensation for the downtime. Vessels in the Tallinn area require assistance from icebreakers, including the Russian nuclear-powered Sibir, highlighting the scale of the weather difficulties currently facing shipping. Simultaneously with the weather crisis, a scandal related to ecological security is escalating. The organization Greenpeace has revealed a report indicating that since December 15 of last year, eight tankers without a flag state, forming the so-called ghost fleet, have entered German waters a total of 11 times. Activists accuse the government in Berlin of inaction and a lack of response to the presence of vessels that often lack valid safety certificates or liability insurance. The Baltic Sea is one of the world's busiest waterways, and its specific characteristics – low salinity and shallow depth – make it extremely sensitive to oil spills. Historically, the region's largest disaster was the grounding of the tanker Antonio Gramsci in 1979, which led to the release of thousands of tons of oil. Experts warn that the combination of extreme icing and the presence of old, poorly maintained Russian ships creates a volatile mix. In the event of a collision with an ice floe or another vessel, the 'ghost' flagships could cause an ecological disaster for which no one would take financial responsibility. Greenpeace is demanding that German authorities immediately detain and inspect ships without a flag, accusing officials of ignoring clear violations of international law to avoid political confrontation. „The government regularly forgets its duty to intercept unflagged tankers, which exposes the entire Baltic coast to irreversible contamination.” — Greenpeace Representative Number of identified tankers: 8, Recorded entries into territorial waters: 111 meter — thickness of the ice cover in Greifswald Bay