**Germany seizes oil tanker from Russia's shadow fleet**
**The German government has seized a Russian oil tanker with 100,000 tons of crude oil that has been lying off the coast of Rügen since January.**
The German government has chosen to take decisive action against the tanker "Eventin", which is part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which is used to circumvent international sanctions and export oil despite the restrictions. The ship, which sails under the Panamanian flag, was seized by German customs authorities last week. With the seizure, Germany takes ownership of both the aging vessel and its cargo of around 100,000 tons of crude oil worth a good 40 million euros (298 million kroner). This is reported by the German Spiegel.
The authorities have decided to re-flag the "Eventin" after customs authorities issued an official confiscation notice.
The Panamanian-registered tanker became unmaneuverable in January and drifted north of Rügen. To prevent a possible environmental disaster, the ship was towed into the waters off Sassnitz, where it has since been monitored by the coast guard and federal police. The ship has been monitored by the authorities after it was registered by the EU in February as part of Russia's shadow fleet.
The decision to seize the "Eventin" was made after a series of ministerial discussions on how to handle the vessel, which was on its way from the Russian port of Ust-Luga through the Baltic Sea to Egypt. The German government sees the seizure as a signal to Moscow that Germany will not accept Russian oil being transported freely through the Baltic Sea.
The authorities are now working on a plan to safely empty the tanks and decide on the ship's future. In the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there are concerns that the ship's presence could have negative consequences for the environment and tourism.
The German Finance Ministry, which is responsible for customs authorities, has declined to comment on the case, citing ongoing "customs measures and a current security situation".
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