Latest news with #Eventin
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Germany launches additional measures against Russia's 'shadow fleet'
FILE PHOTO: A view shows Panama-flagged vessel "Eventin" off the shore of Sassnitz, Germany, April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Tobias Schlie/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany has pledged additional measures to further counter Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" operating in the Baltic and North Sea, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday in a statement. Western sanctions aimed at cutting Russia's oil revenues following its invasion of Ukraine have led to the rise of a vast "shadow fleet" of tankers that helps Moscow to keep its crude exports flowing. From Tuesday German authorities have begun questioning passing tankers about their insurance coverage against oil pollution damage, the foreign ministry said, adding that the insurance coverage of "shadow fleet" vessels is often unknown, as they avoid reputable insurers and European ports. "Our goal is very clear: We are increasing the pressure on the Russian shadow fleet and protecting the Baltic Sea," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in the statement. (Reporting by Maria MartinezEditing by Gareth Jones)
The Star
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Time to suffocate Russia's economy after 17th EU sanctions package, France says
A view shows Panama-flagged vessel "Eventin" off the shore of Sassnitz, Germany, April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Tobias Schlie BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - The European Union must focus on a new sanctions package to suffocate Russia's economy and force President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, France's foreign minister said on Wednesday. Speaking after the EU adopted a 17th sanctions package, Jean-Noel Barrot said that the impact of sanctions had been insufficient so far, and the bloc needed to work with the United States, where Congress has prepared crippling measures should U.S. President Donald Trump decide to pressure Moscow. "We are adopting today a 17th sanctions (package)," Barrot told leading news channel BFM TV. "We will need to go further because the sanctions so far have not dissuaded Vladimir Putin from continuing his war of aggression. "So we must prepare to expand devastating sanctions that could suffocate once and for all Russia's economy." The 17th package sees some 200 'shadow fleet' tankers sanctioned. Two countries still need to consult their own parliaments on the details but the package is expected to be adopted next week by the bloc's foreign ministers, diplomatic sources said. The latest tightening of sanctions comes as Moscow and Kyiv may hold their first peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday since the early days of Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the ships, the package adds new restrictions on 30 companies involved in the trade of dual-use goods while 75 individuals and entities will be listed for their links to Russia's military industrial complex. The countries have also agreed to expand the legal base for their sanctions framework on Russian hybrid threats. One of the new measures will allow the EU to sanction fleets that destroy subsea cables and other physical assets. A further 20 entities and individuals were added to this list. Some European leaders have threatened to impose further sanctions on Russia if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, but they would face formidable political obstacles and would need U.S. support to succeed, officials and diplomats have said. Barrot, who will be in Turkey on Thursday for a NATO foreign ministers meeting, said he would hold talks in Turkey with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on a U.S. sanctions bill he is putting together. That bill would impose tariffs of 500% on countries that imported Russian oil, Barrot said. "Russia has found ways to circumvent the blockage imposed by Europe and the United States so closing the tap would grab Russia by the throat," he said. Diplomats said discussions on a new EU package would take several weeks and aim to target the banking, financial and energy sector, but would face difficulties in securing the necessary unanimity among the bloc's 27 members. Under a human rights framework, the EU also agreed on Wednesday to place sanctions on judges and prosecutors involved in the cases against Vladimir Kara-Murza as well as Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony in February last year. The countries have also agreed on an export ban on chemicals used in missile production, the diplomatic sources said. (Reporting by Julia Payne and John Irish; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Estonia vows to continue deterring Russian shadow fleet vessels
Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has stated that his country will continue to work with Baltic and North Sea nations to protect the environment and ensure the safety of maritime and underwater infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland. Source: Estonian newspaper Postimees, citing Tsahkna in a statement, as reported by European Pravda Details: Tsahkna noted that after the Kiwala oil tanker from the Russian shadow fleet had been detained in Estonian waters, the vessel addressed its significant deficiencies and was subsequently allowed to continue its voyage. "The detention of Russian shadow fleet vessels in Estonia and in Finland recently shows that the actions of such vessels do not go unpunished and that we have the ability to stop them," he said. Tsahkna added that the deficiencies identified during the detention of the vessel were addressed, an inspection was conducted and the ship was subsequently released. "This case further confirms that the registers of the flag of convenience countries have significant shortcomings, with unreliable data and problematic communication," he pointed out. The Estonian operation to detain the tanker began on 10 April, when the vessel approached Estonian territorial waters, and continued when it entered them at around 03:00 local time on Friday. Background: In late March, Germany replaced the crew on the oil tanker Eventin, which had been detained in mid-March as part of the Russian shadow fleet, and took control of the vessel, including its cargo. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German court to review seizure of Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court will weigh a request to release a seized oil tanker that is believed to be part of a so-called shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions, Germany's finance ministry said on Monday. The Panama-flagged vessel, the Eventin, was found drifting out of control off Germany's Baltic Sea coast in January. It had been on its way from Russia to Egypt with a cargo of around 100,000 metric tons of oil, worth some 40 million euros ($45.24 million). German authorities confiscated the decrepit vessel, which was included in an EU sanctions package targeting Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and sharply rebuked Moscow over the incident. Russian authorities at the time said they had no information about the ship or its owner. A spokesman for Germany's finance ministry said on Monday that it was pausing further enforcement measures pending a court's decision regarding the vessel. "Appeals for interim relief have now been filed with the competent court against the seizure and confiscation of the ship and its cargo," the spokesman said. The finance ministry declined to reveal the identity of the plaintiff, whether the petition had been brought by the owner of the ship or its cargo, or how long the legal process would last. The Eventin is currently moored off the resort town of Sassnitz. It will soon be relocated to a hazardous goods anchorage about three nautical miles away, but it is deemed seaworthy and poses no current threat, an official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday. EU sanctions have aimed to put pressure on Russia and limit its ability to finance the war in Ukraine by targeting the "shadow fleet" - vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains around in violation of sanctions. The vessels are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers, and, with little incentive to follow shipping standards, they pose safety and environmental risks, industry experts say. ($1 = 0.8841 euros)
Reuters
14-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
German court to review seizure of Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker
BERLIN, April 14 (Reuters) - A German court will weigh a request to release a seized oil tanker that is believed to be part of a so-called shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions, Germany's finance ministry said on Monday. The Panama-flagged vessel, the Eventin, was found drifting out of control off Germany's Baltic Sea coast in January. It had been on its way from Russia to Egypt with a cargo of around 100,000 metric tons of oil, worth some 40 million euros ($45.24 million). German authorities confiscated the decrepit vessel, which was included in an EU sanctions package targeting Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and sharply rebuked Moscow over the incident. Russian authorities at the time said they had no information about the ship or its owner. A spokesman for Germany's finance ministry said on Monday that it was pausing further enforcement measures pending a court's decision regarding the vessel. "Appeals for interim relief have now been filed with the competent court against the seizure and confiscation of the ship and its cargo," the spokesman said. The finance ministry declined to reveal the identity of the plaintiff, whether the petition had been brought by the owner of the ship or its cargo, or how long the legal process would last. The Eventin is currently moored off the resort town of Sassnitz. It will soon be relocated to a hazardous goods anchorage about three nautical miles away, but it is deemed seaworthy and poses no current threat, an official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday. EU sanctions have aimed to put pressure on Russia and limit its ability to finance the war in Ukraine by targeting the "shadow fleet" - vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains around in violation of sanctions. The vessels are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers, and, with little incentive to follow shipping standards, they pose safety and environmental risks, industry experts say. ($1 = 0.8841 euros)
