Abstract:

The problem of marine pollution is one of the most important topics that concern today's civil societies, especially when it involves uncontrolled sabotage. With this in mind, and the significant gap in the topic's complexity, this study attempts to present a different perspective – a simulation of the existing ecological threat in the South Baltic area.

Therefore, the main goal of this study is to demonstrate the impact of the „shadow fleet” on ecological threats in the South Baltic area, based on publicly available simulation models, which provide a basis for taking action to counteract any emerging crisis incidents. The following research methods and tools were used in the study:

• Secondary analysis of literature sources and legislative data in Poland and the European Union – this method allowed for the analysis of available data on the impact of the "shadow fleet" on the initiation of ecological threats in the Baltic Sea area,
• Case study method – this approach allowed for the analysis of available simulation models in the context of the impact of "shadow fleet" activity in the Baltic Sea on the initiation of possible changes in the context of area contamination caused by oil and petroleum spills.