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Belgium Detains Russian Tanker Ethera, Imposes €10M Security Hold
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The Belgian government announced that it has set a €10 million ($11,63 million) deposit for the Russian oil tanker Ethera. The vessel was detained on Sunday after being identified as part of the shadow fleet, according to Belga News Agency on March 3.
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The vessel, named Ethera, was seized during the night between Saturday and Sunday as part of an operation labeled “Blue Offender.” The Directorate General of Shipping identified 45 violations on board. Most of these infractions involved forged certificates, as authorities discovered the tanker was sailing under a fake Guinean flag. Inspectors also reported several technical defects.
Federal maritime police conducted further checks on the ship, including identity verifications for the 21 crew members. The crew includes a Russian captain, seven officers from India, Georgia, and Indonesia, and 13 other crew members of Indian nationality.
A ban on the movement of people is currently in effect for the tanker, meaning the crew is prohibited from disembarking or entering Belgian territory.
The ship will be allowed to sail again only after a security deposit of €10.02 million ($11.65 million) is paid and a new inspection confirms it meets all current regulations. This follow-up inspection will take place once the shipowner confirms the vessel is in full regulatory compliance.
“Operation Blue Offender, the inspections carried out, and the ongoing investigation by the federal prosecutor’s office send a clear international signal that Belgium is taking active measures against the shadow fleet and strengthening the security of vital infrastructure,” Verlinden said.
“With this operation, we are ensuring compliance with European sanctions, protecting the North Sea, and limiting the financing of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Belgium will not allow its maritime space to be used to undermine international law,” added Defense Minister Theo Francken.
At the time of its seizure, the Ethera was traveling from Morocco to Saint Petersburg, Russia. The tanker is included on the European Union’s sanctions list.
Earlier, the Belgian Armed Forces, supported by French naval assets, successfully intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the North Sea. The operation, code-named “Blue Intruder,” marked the first time Belgium used military force to seize a vessel involved in circumventing international sanctions against Russia.
Special operations teams conducted a helicopter-borne assault to take control of the tanker, which was identified as the Ethera, after intelligence confirmed it was operating as a stateless vessel under a fraudulent flag.
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