Germany Confiscates Russian Tanker “Eventin,” Seizing $43 Million Worth of Oil

Germany has 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, after being anchored off the coast of Rügen since mid-January.

Reported by SPIEGEL on March 21, the confiscation includes both the vessel and its cargo of approximately 100,000 tons of crude oil, valued at over €40 million. The tanker will now become German property following a confiscation order issued by the General Customs Directorate.

Security sources indicated that the Eventin will be reflagged as part of the confiscation process. Prior to the order, German authorities had engaged in extensive discussions about how to address the tanker, which had been en route from Russia’s Ust-Luga port to Egypt.

The vessel initially drifted off the northern coast of Rügen in mid-January, becoming immobile and posing a risk of an oil spill. It was subsequently towed to Sassnitz, where it was monitored by the coast guard and federal police.

Since late February, the Eventin had been included in the European Union’s list of vessels tied to Russia’s shadow fleet. Despite the sanctions, Russia continues to export oil globally using a network of aging tankers, many of which do not fly the Russian flag.

Once the Eventin was included on the list, the German government chose to confiscate the tanker, a move viewed as a strong signal to Russia that Germany would not tolerate Russian oil transit through the Baltic Sea.

German authorities are now working on plans to safely extract the crude oil from the Eventin’s tanks. The German state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has expressed concern about the environmental and tourism impact of the vessel, urging that it be removed promptly.

The German Ministry of Finance, which oversees customs, declined to comment on the matter due to the ongoing customs measures and the current security situation.

Earlier, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, stated that the EU continues to spend more on Russian fossil fuels than on financial aid to Ukraine.