‘Shadow’ Tanker Stranded In Baltic Sea, Germany Points Finger At Russia.
German maritime authorities have disclosed that a stranded oil tanker in German waters is part of what Berlin terms Russia’s “shadow fleet,” used to circumvent international sanctions.
The Panamanian-flagged tanker, named Eventin, lost both power and steering capability, leading to the deployment of tugboats by Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME) to secure the vessel. The incident occurred in the coastal waters north of the German island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has directly blamed Moscow for the situation, stating, “Russian President Vladimir Putin is circumventing sanctions and endangering European security through the ruthless deployment of a fleet of dilapidated tankers.”
The Eventin, measuring 274m in length and 48m in width, was carrying approximately 99,000 tonnes of oil when it began to drift. A team of specialists was dispatched by helicopter to the vessel to establish towing connections, which were successfully secured by three tugboats. According to the latest updates, the convoy is en route to Sassnitz on Rügen, expected to arrive early Sunday morning.
No oil leaks have been reported, though the operation was conducted under challenging conditions with 2.5m-high waves and increasing wind gusts.
The vessel, despite flying the Panamanian flag, has been linked by German authorities to Russia’s shadow fleet. This fleet, known for ageing ships without standard Western insurance, opaque ownership, and frequent changes in name and flag, operates beyond typical maritime regulations.
This incident follows EU announcements in December to develop sanctions targeting this shadow fleet, which not only poses environmental risks but also funds Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. The EU’s initiative came after damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, attributed to a vessel from this shadowy armada.
The US and UK have also intensified actions against Russian energy giants Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy noting that these measures aim to “drain Russia’s war chest.” However, Gazprom Neft has dismissed these sanctions as “baseless” and “illegitimate.”
On the same day, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on 183 vessels identified as part of this shadow fleet, highlighting a concerted effort by Western nations to restrict Russia’s oil exports amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Russia has not yet responded to the specific allegations regarding the Eventin tanker, maintaining silence on previous accusations of using a shadow fleet to bypass sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
