Germany recently seized a dilapidated tanker discovered adrift off its northern coast, suspected to be part of a clandestine fleet used by Russia to evade oil sanctions. The Panama-flagged vessel, named Eventin, was intercepted by German maritime authorities near the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen while en route from Russia to Egypt. The tanker, carrying approximately 100,000 metric tons of oil valued at around 40 million euros, is now under German control following a confiscation order issued for the ship.
The German finance ministry, responsible for customs authorities, refrained from providing detailed comments on the situation due to heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the conflict in Ukraine. Customs measures are currently being implemented, with the local customs authority confirming that the actions have yet to be legally finalized. Moscow has denied any knowledge of the ship or its owner, expressing ignorance about the reasons for its seizure.
Eventin was targeted in the European Union’s 16th round of sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The sanctions specifically aimed to crack down on Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which is utilized to transport oil, arms, and grains in violation of international sanctions. Germany is collaborating with its allies to address this loophole exploited by Russia to fund its military campaign in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow lacks information about the vessel and its seizure.
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