The Estonian Navy has seized an oil tanker in the Baltic Sea and conducted an inspection on board to determine its legal status and safety. This was announced by the country’s Prime Minister, quoted by “Reuters“, reports BTA.
The detained ship, called Kiwala, was en route to the Russian port of Ust-Luga when it was stopped near Egna Island, outside the Bay of Tallinn.
According to the commander of the Estonian Navy, Stre Ivo Vark, the tanker is part of the so-called “shadow fleet“ of Russia - an informal network of vessels often used to circumvent sanctions. However, the detention is not related to damage to critical infrastructure.
The tanker is subject to sanctions by the European Union and at least three other countries - Canada, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In addition, the ship is sailing without a state flag, which means it is prohibited from moving on the high seas.
“The purpose of the detention is to check the documents and legal status of the ship. The check is not related to damage to the infrastructure, but is carried out by the relevant authorities“, Vark specified.
The head of border patrols at the Estonian Police and Border Guard Service, Veiko Kommusaar, said that recently there has been an increase in such ships without the necessary documents in the Gulf of Finland:
“It is no secret that in the last year a number of vessels without proper documentation have appeared here. "And it's clear that this one is part of the shadow fleet," he added.