Germany seizes tanker that was apparently part of Russia's shadow fleet

Berlin, 21 March (CTK correspondent) – German authorities have seized a tanker that its crew lost control of in the Baltic Sea in January. Der Spiegel reported this today, citing its sources. According to the magazine, the vessel Eventin is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which helps circumvent sanctions.

The tanker, carrying nearly 100.000 tonnes of oil, was sailing under the Panamanian flag in the Baltic Sea at the start of the year when its crew lost control of it near the German coast on 10 January. German authorities secured it and towed it to the island of Rügen, where it is under constant Federal Police guard. According to the authorities, no oil leaked from the vessel, which is 274 metres long and 48 metres wide.

According to Der Spiegel, German customs seized the vessel last week. It decided to do so after the European Union added Eventin to its list of Russian shadow fleet vessels. The tanker itself is in poor condition, but the oil it was carrying is worth around 40 million euros (one billion CZK).

The so-called shadow fleet consists of ageing tankers that Moscow uses unofficially to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports. According to the tracking portal Vesselfinder, Eventin departed from the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga and was heading for Port Said in Egypt.