BERLIN — Germany charged that a heavily loaded tanker adrift off its northern coast Friday was part of the “shadow fleet” Moscow uses to avoid sanctions on its oil exports.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Russia’s use of “dilapidated oil tankers” and labeled it a threat to European security.
She spoke after the 274-meter-long Eventin, carrying approximately 100,000 tons of oil, was reported adrift and “unable to maneuver” in the Baltic Sea.
The vessel, on its way from Russia to Egypt when it became distressed, “was drifting at low speed in the coastal waters,” Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said.
An emergency tug intercepted the Eventin in waters off the island of Ruegen to stabilize the ship, which was carrying around “99,000 tons of oil.”
READ: US unveils sweeping sanctions against Russia’s energy sector
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It was joined by two other tugs that successfully attached to the stricken vessel and held it in place, the German command said in a later statement, adding that radios and flashlights had been passed to the stranded crew.
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No oil leaks were detected by several surveillance aircraft overflights.
The sea was rough, with 2.5-meter-high (8 feet) waves and strengthening wind gusts, the command said, adding no decision had yet been taken on whether and when to tow the oil tanker to a port.
Although the tanker was navigating under the Panamanian flag, the German foreign ministry linked it to Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet.”
Baerbock said that “by ruthlessly deploying a fleet of rusty tankers, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is not only circumventing the sanctions, but is also willingly accepting that tourism on the Baltic Sea will come to a standstill” in the event of an accident.
READ: G7 agrees new steps to curb Russian sanctions evasion
Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Western countries have hit Russia’s oil industry with an embargo and banned the provision of services to ships carrying oil by sea.
In response, Russia has relied on tankers with opaque ownership or without proper insurance to continue lucrative oil exports.
The number of ships in the “shadow fleet” has exploded since the start of the war in Ukraine, according to US think tank the Atlantic Council.
In addition to direct action against Russia’s oil industry, Western countries have moved to sanction individual ships thought to be in the shadow fleet.
The European Union has so far sanctioned over 70 ships thought to be ferrying Russian oil.
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The United States and Britain on Friday moved to impose restrictions on some further 180 ships in the shadow fleet.
