A vessel believed to be one of Russia's Shadow Fleet oil tankers has lost steering control and is now adrift in the sea north of Germany.
On Friday, German news agency dpa reported that the Eventin, a Panama-flagged ship believed to have 99,000 tons of oil on board, broke down a few miles north of Rügen Island.
The Eventin is one of nearly 200 vessels listed by Greenpeace as a member of Russia's Shadow Fleet, ships used by the Kremlin to covertly transport Russian oil in violation of international sanctions against the country. The ship is also subject to its own set of sanctions by the United Kingdom for its involvement in the Fleet's activities.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
Why It Matters
Since sanctions were imposed on Russia's economy following the invasion of Ukraine, the shadow fleet has played a crucial role in helping Moscow sustain its energy revenues, which still make up more than a quarter of its federal budget, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Any reduction in this fleet—already impacted by targeted sanctions and the increasing reluctance of Moscow's allies to engage with the unauthorized tankers—would place additional pressure on Russia's already struggling economy.
The Shadow Fleet has also been an increasingly central focus of Ukraine's partners, who view it as undercutting the economic pressures placed on Russia in response to the invasion.
During a plenary debate in October, European Union members called for enhanced maritime surveillance and shipping controls to be imposed to crack down on the fleet's movement throughout international waters.
On Monday, the United Kingdom announced that the Joint Expeditionary Force, a U.K.-led multinational military partnership, would dispatch additional ships to monitor the threats posed by the Shadow Fleet to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following reports that the Finland-Estonia undersea power cable Estlink-2 was damaged by one of Russia's vessels.
What To Know
According to ship-tracking website VesselFinder, the Eventin was en route to Port Said, Egypt, from the Ust-Luga settlement in Russia's Leningrad Oblast, when it broke down.
It is unclear why the ship lost steering and began drifting in the Baltic Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping routes.
German authorities informed dpa that the ship was watertight, and that an evacuation of its crew members was unnecessary.
The CMME told Newsweek that Bremen Fighter, a German-controlled vessel, was able to establish a towing connection to the Eventin on Friday afternoon.
It said that there were 24 crew members currently onboard and that the "distressed vessel" was being held in place to prevent it from drifting "uncontrollably," as authorities assess the next steps.
What People Are Saying
The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies told Newsweek: "The emergency tug Bremen Fighter was able to establish a towing connection to the stricken vessel Eventin at around 3 p.m. The distressed vessel is now being held in position with the towing connection so that the ship does not drift uncontrollably. The next tactical steps are examined."
What Happens Next?
The CMME did not comment on the next steps for the tanker once it is stabilized, but said that the multipurpose vessel Arkona of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration had also been deployed to assist in the towing efforts. Further tugboats are also en route, and a Dornier Do 228 sensor aircraft has been deployed in the area to gather further information.
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