NEWSLETTER
www.lethagencies.com
YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS Nov 2025Issue 002
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:
LETH Seasonal CampaignSkaw passings UpdateBALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Skaw Passings Update : October 15 - November 15
Source: Lloyds AIS, Observed Data
Skaw passings Per Week Total Northbound Southbound
Crude
Tanker
Product
Tanker
Dry Bulk
Container /
General
Cargo
Other TankersGas Carrier
Monthly Average 2025 1091 543 548 101 56 191 510 161 71
Oct 15 - Nov 15 1185 584 601 93 58 178 587 181 88
BALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Update from our analyst at Guardian
At Guardian, our Risk Advisory team closely monitors the Baltic risk
landscape to provide our clients with valuable insights and
operational recommendations.
The main driver for security concerns in the Baltic remains the
Russian presence and its hybrid operations.
On October 15, the Royal Swedish Navy reported detecting and
escorting a Russian submarine that entered the Baltic through the
Kattegat. While the incident did not escalate, it highlights the
multidomain nature of Russian activity. NATO addressed this
challenge directly during Exercise Playbook Merlin 25, from 10 to 14
November, rehearsing anti-submarine warfare. At the same time,
NATO officials claim that the increased military presence and
surveillance directly contributed to a decrease in undersea
sabotage in the Baltic.
However, Russia’s primary presence in the Baltic manifests through
its shadow fleet, a group of ageing and frequently uninsured vessels
used to circumvent Western sanctions. An investigation by
Lithuanian broadcaster LRT uncovered how Estonian- and
Latvian-owned bunkering companies have been instrumental in
refuelling Russian-linked shadow ships in the Baltic. In particular, the
bunkering tankers Rina and Zircone have conducted hundreds of STS
refuelling operations of vessels either inbound to Russia or operating
without insurance. Ownership of these two bunkering tankers has
been shifting between opaque entities in the Baltics and the UAE, but
ultimately traceable back to European companies and individuals.
This underscores the critical role that the European maritime
industry has in upholding the sanction regime, highlighting the
importance of due diligence in maritime operations. For maritime
operators, relying on tailored risk assessments remains a critical step
to ensure operational security. YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS
MaltaPanama SpainGibraltarDenmarkEgyptSingaporeTurkey
LETH NEWSLETTER Nov 2025
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
Throughout the 1–31 December, Leth Danish Straits will be
running a seasonal campaign for embarking crew staying at
Aalborg Airport Hotel in Denmark.
Seafarers who show the CrewConnect app at the hotel reception
will receive a small goodie bag as a small gesture to make their
travel a bit more enjoyable during December.
The goodie bag includes a small gift and a short survey. We kindly
encourage seafarers to share their feedback, as this helps us
continue improving the services and assistance we provide to crew
during their embarkation.
We hope this little initiative brings some festive cheer to your crew
before they reach the vessel.
Seasonal Campaign for Embarking Crew December 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.lethagencies.com
YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS Nov 2025Issue 002
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:
LETH Seasonal CampaignSkaw passings UpdateBALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Skaw Passings Update : October 15 - November 15
Source: Lloyds AIS, Observed Data
Skaw passings Per Week Total Northbound Southbound
Crude
Tanker
Product
Tanker
Dry Bulk
Container /
General
Cargo
Other TankersGas Carrier
Monthly Average 2025 1091 543 548 101 56 191 510 161 71
Oct 15 - Nov 15 1185 584 601 93 58 178 587 181 88
BALTIC REGION SECURITY UPDATE
Update from our analyst at Guardian
At Guardian, our Risk Advisory team closely monitors the Baltic risk
landscape to provide our clients with valuable insights and
operational recommendations.
The main driver for security concerns in the Baltic remains the
Russian presence and its hybrid operations.
On October 15, the Royal Swedish Navy reported detecting and
escorting a Russian submarine that entered the Baltic through the
Kattegat. While the incident did not escalate, it highlights the
multidomain nature of Russian activity. NATO addressed this
challenge directly during Exercise Playbook Merlin 25, from 10 to 14
November, rehearsing anti-submarine warfare. At the same time,
NATO officials claim that the increased military presence and
surveillance directly contributed to a decrease in undersea
sabotage in the Baltic.
However, Russia’s primary presence in the Baltic manifests through
its shadow fleet, a group of ageing and frequently uninsured vessels
used to circumvent Western sanctions. An investigation by
Lithuanian broadcaster LRT uncovered how Estonian- and
Latvian-owned bunkering companies have been instrumental in
refuelling Russian-linked shadow ships in the Baltic. In particular, the
bunkering tankers Rina and Zircone have conducted hundreds of STS
refuelling operations of vessels either inbound to Russia or operating
without insurance. Ownership of these two bunkering tankers has
been shifting between opaque entities in the Baltics and the UAE, but
ultimately traceable back to European companies and individuals.
This underscores the critical role that the European maritime
industry has in upholding the sanction regime, highlighting the
importance of due diligence in maritime operations. For maritime
operators, relying on tailored risk assessments remains a critical step
to ensure operational security. YOUR PREFERRED AGENT IN MARITIME HOTSPOTS
MaltaPanama SpainGibraltarDenmarkEgyptSingaporeTurkey
LETH NEWSLETTER Nov 2025
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
Throughout the 1–31 December, Leth Danish Straits will be
running a seasonal campaign for embarking crew staying at
Aalborg Airport Hotel in Denmark.
Seafarers who show the CrewConnect app at the hotel reception
will receive a small goodie bag as a small gesture to make their
travel a bit more enjoyable during December.
The goodie bag includes a small gift and a short survey. We kindly
encourage seafarers to share their feedback, as this helps us
continue improving the services and assistance we provide to crew
during their embarkation.
We hope this little initiative brings some festive cheer to your crew
before they reach the vessel.
Seasonal Campaign for Embarking Crew December 2025
