According to reports from the German press, the German government has seized a Russian oil tanker belonging to the “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea.

As reported by the German newspaper Der Spiegel, based on security sources, the German government seized a tanker stranded in the Baltic Sea and linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet.”

On March 14, German customs officials seized the tanker named Eventin flying the Panamanian flag.

The tanker, en route from Russia’s Ust-Luga port in the Baltic Sea to Egypt, had been anchored off Ruegen since mid-January. Due to the risk of an oil spill, the tanker was towed to Sassnitz where it was monitored by the German Coast Guard and federal police. Following the decision from the General Customs Directorate, Germany took over ownership of the vessel and cargo worth over 40 million Euros (approximately 100,000 tons of crude oil).

A spokesperson for the German Finance Ministry told Reuters, “Customs measures have not yet been legally binding, further travel has been banned.” The spokesperson stated, “The procedures regarding the ship and cargo are currently being examined by the responsible authorities.” According to Der Spiegel, by seizing the Eventin, the German government aims to send a message to Russia that it will not tolerate oil shipments through the Baltic Sea. Recent suspicions have arisen about shadow fleet vessels carrying out sabotage operations in the Baltic Sea, causing significant damage to submarine cables.