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German Forces Seize Cargo Ship Suspected of Launching Russian Spy Drone
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
German authorities have detained the cargo vessel “Scanlark” on suspicion of espionage and possible sabotage after an operation in the Kiel Canal, according to Spiegel on September 8.
Special police units boarded the 75-meter vessel on September 7, carrying out a search that lasted into the following day. The operation was part of an ongoing investigation into suspected intelligence activities threatening Germany’s critical maritime infrastructure, Spiegel reported.
According to Kieler Nachrichten, security measures included shutting down public webcams along the canal and restricting access to the vessel from the shore. Divers were also deployed to examine the ship’s hull.
Prosecutors in Flensburg and the criminal police of Schleswig-Holstein stated there are grounds to believe that on August 26, a drone was launched from the Scanlark. Investigators suspect it flew over a German Navy vessel to collect reconnaissance imagery.
German media SHZ reported that the unmanned aircraft may have been of Russian origin, though this has not been officially confirmed.
According to maritime photographer and documentalist Mark Prummel, who has compiled a chronological overview of the vessel, the ship was originally built in 1985 at the Gebr. Kötter shipyard in Haren-Ems, Germany, and has undergone multiple ownership and name changes.
It sailed under the names “Drochtersen” and “Öland” before receiving its current name, RMS Scanlark, in 2006. Since then, it has been managed by Vista Shipping Agency AS of Tallinn on behalf of Scan Maritime Inc., Kingstown.
Prummel’s documentation notes that the vessel is 75.17 meters long, has a gross tonnage of 1,371, and is powered by a Krupp MaK 6M332 main engine with 600 kW output, giving it a service speed of around 11 knots. Its IMO number is 8505915, call sign J8B3399, and MMSI 375354000.
He also highlights several past maritime incidents involving the ship: in January 2015, it suffered engine damage and required tug assistance during a storm near Kiel; in December 2022, it ran aground on the Danish island of Samso after the watch officer allegedly fell asleep; and in August 2023, it ran aground near Ærøskøbing harbor.
Most recently, on August 26, 2025, German prosecutors alleged the ship was used to launch a reconnaissance drone, which preceded the September 7 raid.
SHZ reported that the crew consists of Russian nationals. Authorities detained the crew during the operation and barred them from disembarking.
Following the September 7–8 raid, Prummel’s overview also cites reports that police confiscated navigation equipment and broke open several security-relevant doors, leaving the vessel no longer seaworthy.
Inspectors from BG Verkehr must now determine whether the freighter can resume operations, though the timeline for such an inspection remains unclear.
According to Mark Prummel, the presence of unusual 360-degree cameras and GPS antennas on board—equipment not typically found on a ship of this type, raising further suspicion it may have been modified for intelligence purposes.
Earlier, at least six Bundeswehr trucks were destroyed in a suspected Russian arson attack at a military facility in Erfurt, Germany. Footage shared on pro-Russian Telegram channels showed Rheinmetall MAN vehicles in flames, all marked with German military insignia and plates, suggesting a direct sabotage strike on NATO territory.
