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Estonia Blocks Russian-Linked Tanker Carrying Crude Oil Amid Safety and Flag Violations
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Estonian authorities have detained the tanker Kiwala, part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” after discovering dozens of serious safety violations and determining the vessel was operating without a valid national flag, Estonia’s Transport Administration reported on April 12.
Kristjan Truu, head of the Maritime Department at Estonia’s Transport Administration, said that inspectors uncovered 40 deficiencies during a detailed inspection.
“We cannot allow the vessel to continue its voyage, as maritime and environmental safety cannot be guaranteed,” he stated.
Truu explained that 29 of the violations were significant, including 23 related to missing or improper documentation. The rest concerned technical malfunctions and the crew’s inadequate emergency preparedness.
He added that one of the most alarming findings was that the ship appeared to be stateless, making it exempt from any national legal jurisdiction.
“One major concern is the suspicion that the vessel has no flag state, meaning it does not fall under the jurisdiction of any national legislation,” Truu emphasized. “Estonia exercised its rights and international obligations to inspect a stateless vessel.”
Originally believed to be sailing under the flag of Djibouti, Kiwala was later revealed to have been de-registered by Djibouti due to illegal activity, stripping it of recognized state affiliation.
At the time of detention, the ship lacked valid insurance and was anchored in Muuga Bay under the watch of the Estonian Navy.
The tanker was en route to Russia’s Ust-Luga oil terminal when it entered the Gulf of Finland on April 10 without valid registration. The crew complied with Estonian authorities when directed into national waters for inspection.
There were 24 crew members on board, including a Chinese captain, who has reportedly agreed to cooperate with the investigation.
Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Kiwala is under sanctions by the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna noted that the seizure demonstrates the effectiveness of “coordinated measures against Russia’s shadow fleet,” which the Kremlin uses to circumvent international oil restrictions.
The incident comes just days after Estonia’s parliament passed legislation empowering the country’s Defense Forces to use force against vessels that threaten national security in the Baltic Sea.
Kiwala will not be permitted to leave Estonia until all deficiencies are corrected and the vessel passes a follow-up inspection.
Earlier, Germany seized a tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, marking a significant step in efforts to curb Moscow’s oil exports despite international sanctions. The Panamanian-flagged Eventin was confiscated by German customs authorities on March 14.
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