Safety of the Baltic Sea and Tanker Traffic

On September 12, 2024, we had the pleasure of hosting our Breakfast Seminar in Helsinki, centred on an important and timely topic: Safety of the Baltic Sea and Tanker Traffic. This issue has gained increasing attention recently, particularly due to concerns about the “shadow fleet” and the risks it poses to maritime security and the environment.

After enjoying a light breakfast and morning coffee, we had the privilege of hearing from a panel of expert speakers, each providing valuable insights from different perspectives:

🔹 Ulla von Weissenberg (Partner, Attorney at Law, Procopé & Hornborg Attorneys) spoke about the impact and effectiveness of the current sanctions regime on the maritime industry;

🔹Mariika Virrankoski-Poulsen (LL.M. eMBA, Manager, Wesmans Denmark) illustrated the complex journey of oil through the Baltic Sea and Danish Straits, supported by a practical case WESMANS handled in March 2024;

🔹Mikko Hirvi (Deputy Commander, Gulf of Finland Coast Guard) shared an operational perspective on shadow fleet activities in the Gulf of Finland.

These discussions highlighted the current challenges at the crossroads of maritime safety, geopolitical stability, and environmental protection.

We are grateful to our esteemed speakers for their insights and to all attendees for their participation.

At WESMANS, we look forward to hosting more events like this across all our locations, continuing to share knowledge and to work together to enhance maritime safety globally.