Baltic Sea: Sailors Advised to Use Caution
Yachts cruising the Baltic Sea are advised to use caution, stay vigilant, consider avoiding the Russian Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ), and reminded to report any incidents of concern.
SV Emaloca
In early June, German sailors Anke and Gerd Schekahn of SV Emaloca had a run in with a Russian submarine in the Baltic Sea off of Kaliningrad. Read more about SV Emaloca‘s encouter in these publications:
- Float Magazin Article on Emaloca’s encounter
- Emaloca Blog Post about Russian Sub encounter
- Avia.Pro News Article on Emaloca’s encounter
Baltic Sea Recommendations
Noonsite received the following information and recommendations from Friedrich Christian Haas, CEO and co-founder of AKE | SKABE – Global risk consultancy for secure business:
AKE is closely observing the maritime risks related to the war in Ukraine.
In the Baltic Sea, we observe growing offensive behaviors of Russian maritime and air forces, as a show of force, testing NATO’s and national coast guard reactions and increased suspicion of all Russian waters, ships, and maritime facilities approaching watercraft.
The still unclear story who blew up the North Stream pipeline and suspicion of Ukrainian intelligence using a sailing yacht as cover, is not helpful for sailors of the Baltic Sea in general. NATO’s maritime forces and coast guards are carefully watching every ship after incidents of undersea cables being destroyed by anchors which has increased the suspicion that Russia may occupy Gotland Island. The Island until recently demilitarized, experiences a growing presence of military assets, monitoring every move alongside Gotland’s shores. One author asked it as “is the Baltic Sea becoming a silent front in the Russia’s war against Ukraine?“ Ships and anchors: is the Baltic Sea becoming a silent front in the Russia’s war against Ukraine | Geopolitics and Security Studies Center, GSSC (previously known as Eastern Europe Studies Centre, EESC)
At AKE we consider cruising relatively safe in the Baltic Sea. Nevertheless, we would advise keeping a greater distance from the Russian coast than is theoretically necessary, due to the ongoing dispute of a 2024 Russian defense ministry resolution on its maritime borders with regard to Article 7 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. There’s risk the Russian Navy may harass, board or detain vessels violating maritime borders from a Russian perspective. Captains and Skippers should plan their routes accordingly and report immediately any incident like the crew of Emaloca experienced. Also cruising alongside or anchoring near to underwater pipelines and cables may cause suspicion by Navies and coast guards. So this should be taken into consideration for route planning, too.
AKE is happy to consult skippers and captains on request with our experienced consultants, former members of NATO’s maritime special forces and national police, some themselves passioned sailors, one even a veteran of the The Whitbread Round the World Race.
Friedrich Christian Haas
AKE | SKABE GmbH
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