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Estonia seizes Russian shadow tanker in Baltic Sea
Politico EU ^ | 4/11/2025 | SEB STARCEVIC

Posted on 04/11/2025 9:23:11 AM PDT by marcusmaximus

Estonian authorities detained and boarded a ship in the Baltic Sea that belongs to Russia’s shadow fleet, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Friday.

The vessel, which Michal said did not sail under any nation’s flag but was previously registered to Djibouti according to publicly available records, was detained near Tallinn Bay in an operation involving helicopters.

“Early this morning, the Estonian Navy detained a sanctioned vessel with no flag state,” Michal said in a post on social media. “Our authorities are currently on board, inspecting its legal status and safety.”

The ship was heading to the port of Ust-Luga, a key Russian seaborne oil port in the Baltic Sea, according to Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR).

Moscow commands a vast fleet of oil-exporting tankers in the Baltic Sea which it uses to circumvent Western sanctions and, Kyiv’s allies say, help fund its war against Ukraine.

The ghost vessels often have no flags — a violation of international maritime law — and dubious documentation, with some suspected of being involved in acts of sabotage on the seabed.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.eu ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: balticsea; estonia; ghostships; ghosttankers; ghostvessels; maritimesecurity; oil; oilsmuggling; oiltanker; oiltankers; oiltenkers; russia; sabotage; seabed; shadowfleet; shadowtankers; smuggling; underseacables; ustluga; zeeperporn

1 posted on 04/11/2025 9:23:11 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

Hundreds of shadow tankers, actually dangerous to the rest of global shipping. Russia, China, Iran and Norks are the majority of it.


2 posted on 04/11/2025 9:27:10 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

So we decided they’re not allowed to sell oil for someone willing to buy it, and we seize tankers on the high sea? That’s literally an act of war. Unfortunately Russia plays chess not checkers, they won’t help NATO by starting off a wider war when they are winning.


3 posted on 04/11/2025 9:38:00 AM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2025... RETURN OF THE JEDI...)
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To: Secret Agent Man

So we decided they’re not allowed to sell oil for someone willing to buy it, and we seize tankers on the high sea? That’s literally an act of war. Unfortunately Russia plays chess not checkers, they won’t help NATO by starting off a wider war when they are winning.


4 posted on 04/11/2025 9:38:10 AM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2025... RETURN OF THE JEDI...)
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To: DesertRhino

I’m guess you missed the multiple violations of international law part of the article.

L


5 posted on 04/11/2025 9:39:18 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: marcusmaximus

If Trump actually wants to get the Ukraine War stopped, letting the idiotic Baltic Mice countries do this is not the way.


6 posted on 04/11/2025 9:39:46 AM PDT by Reverend Wright (Anschluss now !)
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To: DesertRhino

“We” didnt seize it.

Read up on shadow tankers. They are very dangerous for other ships. They are often aging ships being used past their lifespan, not maintained, used in areas they were not designed for, causing sinkings, and run without flags or transponders running. Further they are involved with treaty violations, arms smuggling and cash money laundering. And from the last article russia alone has over 600 shadow tankers. China has hundreds as well


7 posted on 04/11/2025 9:59:28 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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