The Swedish Coast Guard has released the bulk carrier Hui Yuan, which was previously detained in the Baltic Sea on suspicion of violating environmental legislation. The vessel, sailing under the Panamanian flag from Russia to Spain, was suspected of dumping coal waste into the sea.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the Detention and Crew’s Reaction
The incident occurred off the coast of the city of Ystad on April 12, when aerial surveillance by the coast guard detected the dumping of coal waste from the ship’s deck. According to Swedish authorities, after the detention, the captain of the bulk carrier admitted to the violation and agreed to post a deposit to cover a subsequent fine.
“The coast guard detained the vessel for dumping coal waste from the deck into the sea. This is a violation of the Environmental Code. Therefore, we want to obtain information from the ship’s captain and report our suspicions,” said prosecutor Hakan Andersson.
Details of the Voyage and Positions of the Parties
The bulk carrier Hui Yuan departed from the port of Ust-Luga on April 9 and was scheduled to arrive at the Spanish port of Las Palmas on April 21. The bulk carrier was built in 2004 and has changed its name and flag multiple times over the years of operation.
According to the Swedish Coast Guard, this vessel is not associated with the so-called Russian “shadow fleet,” which is involved in transporting energy resources in violation of international sanctions. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation criticized the actions of European countries, stating that the detention of vessels is “piracy on maritime communications.”