Germany has seized the Russian “shadow fleet” tanker Eventin, along with its 100,000-ton crude oil cargo valued at over $40 million, following a decision by Germany’s Main Customs Office, according to Der Spiegel.
The Panama-flagged tanker, which had been adrift off the Baltic Sea coast near Rügen since January, was taken under German control due to its deteriorating condition and the risk of an oil spill. The vessel, en route from Ust-Luga, Russia, to Egypt, had lost maneuverability and was later identified as part of Russia’s shadow fleet—a network of aging and poorly maintained tankers used to circumvent Western oil price caps.
German authorities are now working on a plan to safely offload the crude oil, while officials in Mecklenburg–Vorpommern push for the swift disposal of the tanker over environmental and tourism concerns.
Berlin has not commented on the situation, citing “ongoing customs measures and security concerns.”
