Norwegian authorities have charged four individuals in connection with a suspected marine insurance fraud operation linked to Russia’s “dark fleet,” according to NRK.
The investigation focuses on Ro Marine AS, an insurance company that operated under a registered address in the prestigious Norwegian Shipowners Association building in Oslo. However, both NRK and the Shipowners’ Association confirmed that Ro Marine never had a physical presence in the building. Norway’s financial regulatory body, Finanstilsynet, also reported that Ro Marine was not providing legitimate insurance services.
The fraud was uncovered during a routine inspection of the company’s documents, which revealed that Ro Marine had sent clients a forged approval letter purportedly issued by Finanstilsynet. The document contained a fraudulent seal, a forged signature, and referenced non-existent regulations. Finanstilsynet subsequently alerted the police about the apparent fraud. On March 4, the regulatory body ordered Ro Marine AS to cease operations immediately.
Four individuals have been charged in relation to the scheme: two Norwegians, who deny any involvement in illegal activities, a Bulgarian national, and a Russian resident from St. Petersburg, who is identified as the owner and operator of the business. Ro Marine responded to inquiries via email, denying any violations of sanctions.
Although Norwegian authorities have ordered the closure of the company, Ro Marine’s website remains active, and the Russian owner is not currently in custody. As of March 25, Finanstilsynet confirmed that it had been unable to contact the company directly.
In a public statement, Finanstilsynet warned against engaging with Ro Marine and advised against using its services, stating: “We caution against entering into any agreements with Ro Marine AS or utilizing services offered through the company’s websites.”
The investigation also revealed that the new insurance inspection regime in the Baltic Sea identified seven tankers claiming to be insured by Ro Marine, including the dark fleet vessel Achilles. At the time, the fraudulent documents were accepted due to the company’s apparent Norwegian ties, but it later became clear that these vessels were not actually covered. This left them vulnerable in the event of an incident, such as an oil spill.
Harvard sanctions expert Craig Kennedy emphasized the global implications of such fraud: “False insurance is a direct violation of international conventions and poses a significant danger to all parties involved. It undermines core principles of shipping safety and should be a concern for all coastal nations.”
The Ro Marine case is a prominent example of the alternative insurance arrangements employed by Russia-linked tankers in the “dark fleet,” a group of vessels unable to access Western insurance markets due to sanctions. These ships have turned to Russian and Indian insurers, often with questionable results. Experts suggest that the Ro Marine incident may represent one of the most severe instances of such workarounds.
Kristina Siig, an expert in maritime affairs, expressed outrage over the scale of the operation: “While there have been isolated cases of such fraudulent activity, nothing on this scale and with this level of systematic involvement. It’s a complete violation of the system.”
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