Sanctions against "Eventin": EU certain: Tanker wrecked off Rügen belongs to Russia

The "Eventin" has been anchored off Rügen for weeks, but is not allowed to leave port. The almost 100,000 tons of oil could come from Russia. The EU now classifies the ship as part of the Russian shadow fleet - this has concrete consequences.

The EU states have put the oil tanker "Eventin", which crashed off the island of Rügen, on the list of sanctions against Russia. It is thus one of more than 150 ships of the so-called shadow fleet against which sanctions apply.

The term "shadow fleet" refers to ships that Russia uses to circumvent a Western price cap on Russian oil exports to third countries. These often outdated tankers are not owned by Western shipping companies and often travel without adequate insurance. Experts and environmentalists warn of significant risks to shipping and the environment, as many of these ships have technical defects and some operate without an automatic identification system.

The "Eventin" is said to be part of this notorious Russian shadow fleet and drifted in the Baltic Sea for hours in January, unable to maneuver - all systems had failed. German forces secured the tanker and towed it to an area off Rügen, not far from the town of Sassnitz. It has been there ever since.

The ship's main engine has long been running again and the captain has asked for permission to leave port. However, German authorities have so far prohibited this. The ship has been detained for weeks. According to authorities, technical and customs inspections are underway. According to earlier information, the issues addressed include seaworthiness and the question of whether the approximately 100,000 tons of oil on board the "Eventin" are Russian oil and whether the EU oil embargo is being violated.

According to the EU, the ships on the sanctions list are not allowed to call at EU ports and are excluded from a wide range of services within the EU, such as insurance. Technical support and the supply of ships are also affected. What this means for the future of the "Eventin" is still unclear.