meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Documentary Podcast

Deep Waters: Sanctions and the new 'dark' fleet

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.32.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 April 2023

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Shipping has long been one of the most opaque of global industries. Now many operations in the oil sector, which accounts for nearly a third of all seaborne trade, have become still more secretive, following the West's imposition of sanctions on Russian oil. A new "dark fleet" of ageing tankers with obscure ownership, flying flags of convenience, has been formed to avoid the sanctions - and there has been a big increase in risky ship-to-ship transfers at sea, which make it easier to disguise the oil's origin. The Laconian Gulf in southern Greece is a major hub for such transfers, and locals now fear any accident could cause major environmental damage in an area which depends on tourism and fishing. Tim Whewell witnesses the operations close-up, and talks to campaigners who believe the influence of powerful shipowners makes local authorities turn a blind eye to possible dangers. Who is responsible for policing the operations of ships in international waters? And where is the oil going? The war in Ukraine has led to a major reshuffling of trade flows, as Asia becomes an ever bigger market for Russian crude. Presenter: Tim Whewell Producer: Monica Whitlock

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

At normal transactions.

0:03.0

It's a kind of cyber attack on a bank.

0:05.0

Tens of millions of dollars.

0:07.0

Something I don't think anybody has seen before.

0:09.0

It's a cyber criminal group.

0:10.0

From the BBC World Service.

0:12.0

The Lazarusized is back for season two.

0:14.0

It was really like in the movies.

0:16.0

Find out more at the end of this podcast.

0:22.0

What's going on here?

0:25.0

Come on!

0:27.0

Come on!

0:30.0

Welcome to Deep Waters.

0:32.0

On the documentary from the BBC World Service.

0:35.0

Our series on the hidden world of global shipping.

0:39.0

There are a few maritime cargos.

0:41.0

Central to the world economy.

0:43.0

And as potentially dangerous to cruise.

0:46.0

And to the sea.

0:48.0

As oil.

0:49.0

Combustible.

0:50.0

And polluting.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.