Police in Norway have charged four individuals in connection with an alleged fraudulent insurance scheme that provided fake documentation to vessels operating within the shadow fleet. The investigation, led by Oslo police, centers on Ro Marine, a firm accused of issuing counterfeit insurance papers to over 250 ships.
The individuals charged include two Norwegian citizens, one Bulgarian citizen, and one Russian citizen. According to Alexander Bjorvatn Oien of the Oslo police, none of the individuals are currently in custody. The company, Ro Marine, is believed to have operated illegally from a non-existent office, lacking the necessary assets to cover potential claims.
Authorities launched the investigation following a complaint from Finanstilsynet, Norway’s financial regulator. The regulator subsequently issued a warning against engaging with Ro Marine, stating that the company was not licensed to provide insurance or broking services. “As a result of the lack of permission, Finanstilsynet made a decision on March 4, 2025, to stop illegal activities against Romarine AS,” the regulator stated. They added that the company had failed to respond to their inquiries. Finanstilsynet further warned against entering into agreements with Ro Marine or utilizing the services offered through its websites.
The website remains active but no longer lists any ships under its vessel search facility. The ships reportedly holding Ro Marine documents include the 109,000-dwt Achilles (built 2008). According to Danwatch, the Achilles presented its papers to Finnish authorities in March. Kpler ship tracking data indicated that the vessel departed from the Russian port of Primorsk that month, carrying 730,000 barrels of Urals crude. The Achilles is currently in the Mediterranean Sea, en route to India to deliver its cargo.
The Achilles has a history of transporting Russian crude, including assisting the 110,000-dwt Marlin Luanda (built 2018) after it was struck in a Houthi missile attack in the Red Sea in January of the previous year.
