NEWSLETTER
www.lethagencies.com
YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS Feb 2026Issue 005
If you have questions about the statistics in this article or require further information, please reach out to our team at:
[email protected]
Welcome to this month’s update from LETH! As the maritime industry navigates new challenges, we’re here to keep you informed on
the latest developments and updates.
Featured This Month:
Port Agency in DenmarkSkaw passings UpdateBALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Skaw Passings Update : Jan 15- Feb 15
Source: Lloyds AIS, Observed Data
Skaw passings Per Month Total Northbound Southbound
Crude
Tanker
Product
Tanker
Dry Bulk
Container /
General
Cargo
Other TankersGas Carrier
Monthly Average 2594 1261 1333 282 156 509 1019 382 193
Jan 15 - Feb 15 2697 1384 1313 290 159 506 1232 329 168
BALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Update from our analyst at Ambrey
Ambrey has observed a notable reduction in reported maritime
security events in the Baltic Sea over the last moth. In that period,
no confirmed kinetic attempts were reported against Russian
hydrocarbon infrastructure in the region, and no additional
high-profile detentions/seizures of Russia-linked “shadow fleet”
tonnage were openly reported. The principal observable event was
Estonia’s detention and inspection of the Bahamas-flagged
container vessel BALTIC SPIRIT, which was en route from Ecuador to
St Petersburg.
Estonian authorities stated the action was linked to a smuggling /
counter-narcotics investigation prompted by partner intelligence;
no narcotics were found, and the vessel was subsequently released
to continue its voyage. While social/media speculation suggested
the detention may have been used to facilitate checks for sanctions
evasion / dual-use cargo, no official corroboration has been
identified. This line of reporting should therefore remain
unconfirmed.
Strategically, regional rhetoric and policy signaling remain elevated.
On 26 Jan 2026, a coalition of Baltic and North Sea coastal states (plus
Iceland) issued an open letter emphasizing compliance and safety
expectations for higher-risk shipping (including vessels displaying
“shadow fleet” indicators). In parallel, UK and Belgian reporting
indicates increased political appetite to interdict or seize vessels
assessed as stateless / fraudulently flagged, alongside plans for
enhanced maritime monitoring capacity.
Despite limited “overt” enforcement actions in the last month, the
trajectory suggests a rising boarding/detention risk for vessels with
opaque ownership, poor documentation, AIS irregularities, or weak
insurance transiting the Baltic approaches and onward routes. On
sub sea infrastructure, no new publicly confirmed cable/pipeline
damage incidents were reported in the period; however, official and
legal developments continue to reinforce the threat narrative (e.g.,
ongoing scrutiny of historic undersea damage cases and persistent
Finnish assessments that the risk of further incidents remains). EU
has allocated over 350 million euros for the increase of submarine
infrastructure security, signaling ongoing heightened threat
perception. YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS
MaltaPanama SpainGibraltarDenmarkEgyptSingaporeTurkey
LETH NEWSLETTER Feb 2026
If you have questions about the statistics in this article or require further information, please reach out to our team at:
[email protected]
Add your body text
We are pleased to announce that Leth Danish Straits now
offers full port agency services across key Danish ports,
including Skagen / Skaw STS, Frederikshavn (Ørskov
Yard), Aarhus, Fredericia, Esbjerg, Aabenraa, Odense
(Fayard Dry Dock), Copenhagen, Kalundborg, and
Stigsnæs (Gulfhavn).
We support a wide range of vessel segments, including oil
& chemical tankers, dry bulk carriers, container vessels,
RO-RO vessels, general cargo/break-bulk ships, project
vessels, offshore support vessels, rigs, and special units.
Our services include bunkering, fresh water supply,
slops/sludge and sewage disposal, crane hire, heavy
cargo handling assistance, ship repair and conversion, dry
docking, rig refurbishment, and STS operations in Skagen.
With strong local presence and operational expertise, we
ensure efficient turnaround, compliance, and seamless
coordination for owners, operators, and charterers
throughout Denmark.
Please feel free to contact us for further details or
port-specific inquiries.
Port Agency in Denmark
NEWSLETTER
www.lethagencies.com
YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS Feb 2026Issue 005
If you have questions about the statistics in this article or require further information, please reach out to our team at:
[email protected]
Welcome to this month’s update from LETH! As the maritime industry navigates new challenges, we’re here to keep you informed on
the latest developments and updates.
Featured This Month:
Port Agency in DenmarkSkaw passings UpdateBALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Skaw Passings Update : Jan 15- Feb 15
Source: Lloyds AIS, Observed Data
Skaw passings Per Month Total Northbound Southbound
Crude
Tanker
Product
Tanker
Dry Bulk
Container /
General
Cargo
Other TankersGas Carrier
Monthly Average 2594 1261 1333 282 156 509 1019 382 193
Jan 15 - Feb 15 2697 1384 1313 290 159 506 1232 329 168
BALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Update from our analyst at Ambrey
Ambrey has observed a notable reduction in reported maritime
security events in the Baltic Sea over the last moth. In that period,
no confirmed kinetic attempts were reported against Russian
hydrocarbon infrastructure in the region, and no additional
high-profile detentions/seizures of Russia-linked “shadow fleet”
tonnage were openly reported. The principal observable event was
Estonia’s detention and inspection of the Bahamas-flagged
container vessel BALTIC SPIRIT, which was en route from Ecuador to
St Petersburg.
Estonian authorities stated the action was linked to a smuggling /
counter-narcotics investigation prompted by partner intelligence;
no narcotics were found, and the vessel was subsequently released
to continue its voyage. While social/media speculation suggested
the detention may have been used to facilitate checks for sanctions
evasion / dual-use cargo, no official corroboration has been
identified. This line of reporting should therefore remain
unconfirmed.
Strategically, regional rhetoric and policy signaling remain elevated.
On 26 Jan 2026, a coalition of Baltic and North Sea coastal states (plus
Iceland) issued an open letter emphasizing compliance and safety
expectations for higher-risk shipping (including vessels displaying
“shadow fleet” indicators). In parallel, UK and Belgian reporting
indicates increased political appetite to interdict or seize vessels
assessed as stateless / fraudulently flagged, alongside plans for
enhanced maritime monitoring capacity.
Despite limited “overt” enforcement actions in the last month, the
trajectory suggests a rising boarding/detention risk for vessels with
opaque ownership, poor documentation, AIS irregularities, or weak
insurance transiting the Baltic approaches and onward routes. On
sub sea infrastructure, no new publicly confirmed cable/pipeline
damage incidents were reported in the period; however, official and
legal developments continue to reinforce the threat narrative (e.g.,
ongoing scrutiny of historic undersea damage cases and persistent
Finnish assessments that the risk of further incidents remains). EU
has allocated over 350 million euros for the increase of submarine
infrastructure security, signaling ongoing heightened threat
perception. YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS
MaltaPanama SpainGibraltarDenmarkEgyptSingaporeTurkey
LETH NEWSLETTER Feb 2026
If you have questions about the statistics in this article or require further information, please reach out to our team at:
[email protected]
Add your body text
We are pleased to announce that Leth Danish Straits now
offers full port agency services across key Danish ports,
including Skagen / Skaw STS, Frederikshavn (Ørskov
Yard), Aarhus, Fredericia, Esbjerg, Aabenraa, Odense
(Fayard Dry Dock), Copenhagen, Kalundborg, and
Stigsnæs (Gulfhavn).
We support a wide range of vessel segments, including oil
& chemical tankers, dry bulk carriers, container vessels,
RO-RO vessels, general cargo/break-bulk ships, project
vessels, offshore support vessels, rigs, and special units.
Our services include bunkering, fresh water supply,
slops/sludge and sewage disposal, crane hire, heavy
cargo handling assistance, ship repair and conversion, dry
docking, rig refurbishment, and STS operations in Skagen.
With strong local presence and operational expertise, we
ensure efficient turnaround, compliance, and seamless
coordination for owners, operators, and charterers
throughout Denmark.
Please feel free to contact us for further details or
port-specific inquiries.
Port Agency in Denmark
