German customs confiscated the tanker Eventin from the Russian "shadow fleet" along with about 100,000 tons of crude oil worth 40 million euros. This is reported by Der Spiegel, writes UNN.
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The German government has decided to take drastic measures against a tanker belonging to a secret shadow fleet, with the help of which Russia continues to sell oil around the world, despite existing sanctions, the material says.
Last Friday, customs officers detained the tanker "Eventin" under the Panamanian flag, which has been anchored off the coast of Rügen since mid-January. With the help of a confiscation order from the Main Customs Office, the old tanker and approximately 100,000 tons of crude oil worth 40 million euros are now becoming the property of Germany.
Security service sources reported that the "Eventin" will be re-flagged after the issuance of a corresponding order.
Previously, there were intense discussions between various ministries on what to do with the tanker, which was heading from the Russian port of Ust-Luga through the Baltic Sea to Egypt. The damaged "Eventin" initially drifted north of Rügen in mid-January, unable to maneuver. Due to the direct threat of an oil spill, the ship was towed to the waters near Sassnitz and monitored day and night by the coast guard and federal police. Since the end of February, the ship has been included by the EU in the list of Russia's shadow fleet.
The publication notes that moscow continues to sell billions of dollars worth of oil around the world with the help of an entire armada of tankers, most of which are old ships that do not fly the Russian flag. After the "Eventin" was included in the list, the German government decided to confiscate the ship, rather than let it go. Berlin emphasizes that this "extremely tough approach" is aimed at sending a signal to Russia that Germany will not stand by and watch the transit of Russian oil through the Baltic Sea.
The authorities are now planning how and where it will be possible to safely pump crude oil from the tanker's tanks and what will happen to the ship. The government of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern would like to get rid of the tanker in the near future, as they are concerned about the negative impact on the environment and tourism.
