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A Mozambique-flagged oil tanker carrying Russian oil products has been drifting for days off the coast of Almería after losing steering in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spanish environmental group Ecologistas en Acción de Andalucía said.
The Chariot Tide ran out of steering in the middle of the traffic lane in the strait, prompting Spanish maritime rescue vessel Clara Campoamor to monitor the situation.
Two Moroccan tugs intervened to tow the tanker to the Alboran Sea, where it has been sailing at minimum speed.
Although its declared destination is Tangier, environmental organisations say the cargo may end up in Algerian ports or be transferred by barges to other vessels, a common practice in the illegal transport network.
The ship loaded refined products in Ust-Luga, Russia. Maritime tracking data indicate possible failures in its navigation system, which would explain its erratic trajectory, according to Ecologistas en Acción.
The tanker is part of Russia’s so-called dark fleet, a network of hundreds of old tankers used to circumvent international sanctions. These vessels constantly change their names, flags, and management companies, making them difficult to track.
The shadow fleet is also very accident-prone. Ships turn off AIS transponders to avoid detection, transfer cargo between vessels in the open sea and drift for long periods. Many lack adequate insurance or have cover of dubious validity.
Ecologistas en Acción has repeatedly warned about the movement of these tankers in the Alboran Sea.
The organisation says a spill in this area would have irreparable effects on fishing and marine ecosystems, as well as affecting tourism on the Andalusian coast for years.
Strait vulnerable to environmental disaster
The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The presence of ships in poor condition increases the risk of collisions, groundings or massive fuel spills.
A wreck of the Chariot Tide would release hundreds of thousands of barrels into waters connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean, an area of particular environmental sensitivity.
Ocean currents would spread pollution over wide coastal areas of Spain and Morocco, according to environmental groups.
Spain’s Salvamento Marítimo confirmed it is tracking the tanker while it remains in waters close to the Almería coast. However, authorities have not reported any potential intervention measures beyond surveillance.
The European Union has sanctioned more than 600 vessels suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, but enforcement remains challenging as ships frequently change registration and ownership details.