The Baltic has low salinity and freezes in the winter It can be reached via the Kiel Canal or otherwise via Skagerrak (sometimes known as 'the Skaw' after the Danish town of Skagen).¹⁾

The Baltic is relatively shallow; therefore this trade is restricted to Aframax tankers of up to 120,000dwt.²⁾

“Last year, nearly 1,000 Russian oil-laden tankers sailed westward along the Baltic coast, averaging two to three ships per day,” the paper says. “This is the highest number of Russian oil tankers ever recorded off the German coast.”^{1) 2)}

This route “is one of the busiest shipping routes in the Baltic, but its narrow channels make it especially challenging and prone to accidents”, it says. “Groundings and collisions are not uncommon.”³⁾

“The transport route via the Baltic Sea is associated with higher risks for the Russian shadow fleet, as the tankers are easier to inspect here,” Fritsch added.⁴⁾