Belgium has set a significant bail of 10 million euros for the Russian tanker Ethera detained on the 1st of March, Reuters writes.
The North Sea Ministry has informed that the tanker is part of the Russian shadow fleet, and was sailing under a fake flag and documents. The ministry’s statement said that 45 violations were found, mainly for forged certificates, which are related to the fact that the ship was traveling under a fake Guinean flag.
Ethera will be able to continue its journey only after the specified amount is paid, and repeated inspections will confirm compliance with the legislation. To achieve this, the ship must use the appropriate flag, have valid certificates and resolve technical problems.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken indicated that the government is taking a strong stance against shadow fleet ships.
By seizing the Ethera, Belgium has complied with European Union sanctions, protected the North Sea
and limited Russia’s ability to finance aggression in Ukraine, the minister stressed.
Western sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and efforts to reduce Moscow’s oil revenues have led the Kremlin to increasingly use a shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions and continue selling oil. The Ethera tanker is on an EU sanctions list.
The Russian embassy in Belgium did not respond to a request for comment, but Moscow has previously called the seizure of its tankers and cargo ships piracy.
The shadow fleet ships are characterized by an opaque ownership structure, and there are also concerns about their environmental damage, as they often use outdated and inadequate vessels in poor technical condition, creating a risk of oil products entering the water.
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