Russia is allocating over RUB 3 billion for the inspection and detection of explosive devices on ships arriving at its commercial ports in the Baltic Sea.

According to the specialized Russian portal Portnews, the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rosmorport has announced a tender to conduct inspections of the underwater sections of vessels anchored in Russian seaports’ waters.

The procurement is divided into four lots, each with an initial (maximum) contract value of 790 million rubles. The lots include the inspection of vessels in the following ports:

• Big Port, Saint Petersburg
• Passenger Port, Saint Petersburg
• Ust-Luga Port
• Primorsk Port
• Vysotsk Port
• Vyborg Port
• Kaliningrad Port

The inspection will cover the underwater part of the vessel, including the propeller-rudder assembly, thrusters, bulbous bow, technical openings, and bottom fittings, to detect any unauthorized objects or explosive materials.

The inspection methodology involves the use of hydroacoustic equipment as well as imaging and analysis technologies to identify any structurally unplanned objects on the vessel’s underwater section.

According to the procurement documents, the maximum cost of inspecting a single vessel, depending on its class, ranges between RUB 578,000 and 2.8 million.

Sabotage Risks and the Strategic Importance of the Baltic

Shipping through the Baltic Sea is a vital artery for Russia’s commercial fleet, with its routes playing a key role in oil exports. The Baltic accounts for an estimated 35–45% of Russia’s total seaborne crude oil exports and up to 50% of its maritime petroleum product exports.

The main oil export ports include:

• Ust-Luga Port – Russia’s largest oil hub in the Baltic region, used for the export of both crude oil and petroleum products.
• Primorsk Port – a crucial outlet for Russian oil exports via the Baltic Pipeline System.

In addition, the mentioned Port of Kaliningrad plays a strategic role in the logistics of Russia’s exclave and has become crucial for supplying the region from mainland Russia after rail transit through Lithuania was suspended in 2022.

Commercial shipping activity has come under threat in recent months following a series of explosions on vessels entering Russian ports, believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

Ammonia tanker Eco Wizard in the port. Photo credits: Marine Traffic

The most recent incident occurred in early July, directly in Russia’s Ust-Luga port – an explosion took place under mysterious circumstances aboard the ammonia tanker Eco Wizard, causing the vessel to start sinking.

According to the Baza project, during an inspection of the ship using a maritime drone, specialists discovered two holes, each about one and a half meters in diameter, near the engine room at depths of 6 and 7 meters. Sources noted that the metal was bent inward, suggesting that the explosion may have originated from the outside of the tanker.