HYBRIDGE – Bridging Research, Innovation, and Practice to Counter Shadow Fleet Hybrid Threats

Project background

The Baltic Sea region faces growing environmental and security risks due to geopolitical tensions, hybrid threats and the increasing activity of the shadow fleet. Poorly maintained and weakly regulated vessels can cause accidents, oil spills and pollution that harm marine ecosystems, coastal communities and local livelihoods such as fisheries and tourism. These risks often affect several countries at the same time, but responsibilities for prevention and response are divided among different authorities and organisations.

HYBRIDGE addresses this challenge by strengthening cooperation between civilian, military and environmental actors. The project helps authorities improve preparedness, share knowledge and develop coordinated responses to environmental threats related to shadow fleet activities, with the aim of protecting the Baltic Sea region, its communities and its marine environment.

Project objectives

• Strengthen cooperation and preparedness across the Baltic Sea region to prevent and respond to environmental and security risks linked to shadow fleet activities
• Develop a toolkit and recommendations to support civil and military organisations in preventing, managing and responding to environmental risks linked to shadow fleet activities
• Strengthen knowledge sharing and cooperation between authorities, researchers and practitioners