Russia's Shadow Fleet Is Sailing in NATO's Blind Spot: Irish Waters

Around 75% of all trans-Atlantic subsea cables pass through or near Irish waters, and reporting suggests more suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels are increasingly operating there. The article says the number of such vessels has risen over the past 18 months, with shadow fleet ships in the area nearly every day, according to O’Callaghan. The focus on Ireland reflects how vital the nearby cable routes are to communications and data transfer between Europe and North America. The update highlights that shadow fleet activity is not just a maritime concern in open seas but also shows up in coastal “blind spots” where monitoring can be harder, given the density of critical infrastructure.