BERLIN: Germany charged that a heavily loaded tanker adrift off its northern coast on Friday was part of the “shadow fleet” Moscow uses to avoid sanctions on its oil exports.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticised Russia’s use of “dilapidated oil tankers” and labelled it a threat to European security.

She spoke after the 274-metre-long Eventin, carrying almost 100,000 tonnes of oil, was reported adrift and “unable to manoeuvre” in the Baltic Sea.

The vessel, on its way from Russia to Egypt when it became stricken, “was drifting at low speed in the coastal waters”, Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said in a statement. An emergency tug intercepted the Eventin in waters off the island of Ruegen in order to stabilise the ship, which was carrying around “99,000 tons of oil”.

Although the ship was navigating under the Panamanian flag, the German foreign ministry linked it to Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet”.

Baerbock said 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.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2025