Greece’s shipping industry has rejected claims linking Greek-owned vessels to the so-called “dark fleet,” warning that the network of shadow tankers used by Russia and Iran poses a direct threat to global shipping.
Melina Travlos, president of the Union of Greek Shipowners, made the remarks during a conference on the energy transition co-organized by the Financial Times and Kathimerini. She described the dark fleet as an immediate danger for the maritime sector and said vessels operating outside standard international oversight create risks for safety, transparency, and fair competition.
“The dark fleet is a threat to shipping. For us, it is a threat,” Travlos said, dismissing allegations that Greek interests take part in such activity. She stressed that Greek shipping follows international regulations and due diligence procedures.
Inside the dark fleet
The term “dark fleet” refers to tankers that transport oil while avoiding Western sanctions, maritime controls, or commercial scrutiny. These vessels often serve countries such as Russia and Iran, which have relied on alternative shipping networks to keep oil exports moving despite restrictions from the United States, the European Union, and their allies.
These ships often operate through opaque ownership structures, frequent flag changes, complex management arrangements, or older vessels with limited transparency. In some cases, operators turn off tracking systems, carry out ship-to-ship transfers at sea, or use intermediaries to obscure the origin and destination of cargo.
The dark fleet raises serious concerns for the global shipping industry. Many of these vessels are older and may fall short of the insurance, safety, and environmental standards followed by ships operating within mainstream regulatory frameworks. That increases the risk of accidents, oil spills, and legal disputes, especially along sensitive maritime routes.
Greece’s shipping sector pushes back against dark fleet allegations
Travlos challenged critics to provide evidence of any Greek vessel forming part of the dark fleet. “Everyone who talks about the dark fleet should come and tell us where they have actually found a Greek ship that is part of this shadow fleet,” she said. She argued that critics often target Greece because of its dominant position in global shipping.
Greek shipowners control one of the world’s largest merchant fleets, making the country a frequent point of reference in international debates over maritime trade, sanctions, and energy flows. According to Travlos, however, the size and visibility of Greek shipping should not be confused with wrongdoing. She emphasized that Greek operators follow international compliance standards and conduct due diligence checks before entering commercial activity.
Why Russian oil still circulates
Travlos also noted that sanctions against Russian oil do not apply worldwide. While the United States, the European Union, and several other countries have imposed restrictions, major economies such as India and China have not adopted the same sanctions regime.
As a result, Russian oil exports to countries that do not enforce those measures do not automatically violate their national rules. This distinction, she suggested, often gets overlooked in public debate and can lead to broad accusations against legitimate shipping activity.
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