Germany blocks seizure of Russian tanker Eventin

Germany’s Federal Finance Court has ruled that customs authorities cannot confiscate the Russian tanker Eventin.

According to the court, there are “well-founded doubts about the legality of the seizure measures,” Caliber.Az reports, citing German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

In January, all systems on board Eventin failed. The ship was adrift for hours in the Baltic Sea off Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Rescue teams eventually managed to establish towing connections to the tanker at sea.

It is legally unclear whether the ship, despite EU sanctions rules, may enter and exit the EU area with its cargo under an emergency exception.

The Federal Finance Court stated that international law, such as emergency port rights allowing entry in case of distress, must be taken into account.

Carrying 99,000 tons of oil valued at €40 million, the vessel has remained anchored off the coast of Rügen since January.

The European Union considers the ship, around 20 years old, to be part of the so-called "shadow fleet" that Russia uses to circumvent sanctions.

The list of ships that are no longer allowed to enter EU ports or be insured, financed, or equipped by European companies now includes more than 550 vessels.

The Eventin has been added to the EU’s “shadow fleet” list, but its owner, Laliya Shipping Corp., argues that this listing is unjust, as the ship does not fall under the criteria for the shadow fleet and the listing only occurred after the accident.

According to the plaintiff, the ship had “at no point intended to transport sanctioned oil products into the European Union.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada