Estonian authorities have detained an oil tanker belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” according to Rear Admiral Ivo Värk, Commander of the Estonian Navy.
At a press conference, Värk emphasized that the vessel’s detention on Friday morning near Aegna Island is not related to any damage to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
The tanker, Kiwala, has been sanctioned for previous activity by the European Union (EU) as well as at least three non-EU countries—Canada, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Estonian authorities reported that the tanker, which was en route to the port of Ust-Luga in Russia at the time of its detention, was not flying any national flag, meaning it was not permitted to operate in international waters.
Värk stated that the vessel was detained in order to inspect its documentation and legal status.
Veiko Kommusaar, Director General of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, announced that “it can be said with reasonable confidence that the vessel is part of the ‘shadow fleet’.”
The operation by Estonian authorities was prepared on Thursday evening. At 4:19 a.m., the Kiwala, which had departed from Sikka Port in India, entered Estonia’s exclusive economic zone. It is believed the vessel was not carrying cargoat the time of detention.
Estonia’s Transport Administration is now inspecting the ship’s technical condition, insurance status, and crew documentation.
There are 24 crew members on board, Värk confirmed. The ship’s captain is a Chinese national and has so far been cooperative with investigators.
According to the Ukrainian portal WarSanctions, the vessel is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which participates in the export of Russian crude oil and petroleum products to third countries. The portal notes that the ship’s owners and operators frequently change in order to conceal direct links to Russia and to obscure the identity of ultimate beneficiaries. Based on WarSanctions data, the Kiwala is registered under the flag of Djibouti.