The Estonian Navy detained a Russia-bound oil tanker yesterday on April 11, 2025, on an EU sanctions list after it entered the country’s territorial waters in the Baltic Sea without a valid national flag and with questionable legal status.
Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”
The vessel, named Kiwala, has been under European Union sanctions since February and is suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”accusing it of sailing illegally without a valid country flag.The term “shadow fleet” is used by Western nations to describe vessels that are used by Moscow to dodge international sanctions and move oil without proper oversight.
These ships often operate without standard insurance or registration and are not regulated by traditional maritime systems.
Related :The tragedy of Shadow ship discovered adrift off the Baltic coast
Djibouti had denied
The Kiwala was on its way from the port of Sikka in India to the Russian port of Ust-Luga at the time of the seizure, MarineTraffic data showed. It was flying a Djibouti flag, but an Estonian Transport Authority official said Djibouti had denied that it was registered there.
Estonia takes any suspicious maritime activity in the Baltic Sea very seriously
“Early this morning, the Estonian navy detained a sanctioned vessel with no flag state,” Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said in a post on social media X.He added that Estonia takes any suspicious maritime activity in the Baltic Sea very seriously.
The ship’s documents
Estonian Naval Commander Ivo Vark explained at a press briefing that the main objective of the detention was to verify the ship’s documents and legal status
Anchored in Muuga Bay
Whereas Kristjan Truu, Director of the Maritime Division at the Estonian Transport Authority, confirmed that the crew and the ship’s master cooperated during the operation.
It is noteworthy that naval ships and helicopters were involved in the coordinated operation, which began on Thursday evening and concluded on Friday morning as the vessel entered Estonian waters. It is now anchored in Muuga Bay, with two Estonian warships positioned nearby.
High-risk shipping practices
The EU had earlier flagged Kiwala for using high-risk and irregular shipping practices to transport Russian oil.In placing the ship on its sanctions registry in February, the EU said it was involved in transporting Russian oil “while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices”.
There were no reports of any damage to subsea cables or other equipment. Regional countries have accused Moscow of using ships to damage undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea in recent years.
Veiko Kommusaar, Deputy Chief of Police and head of the Estonian Border guard, mentioned that over the past year, several undocumented ships have appeared in the Baltic Sea.According to him, these vessels are likely part of Russia’s shadow fleet, designed to bypass international monitoring and regulations.
The crew of Kiwala consisted of 24 members, including a Chinese national serving as the Captain. The vessel’s lack of valid documentation and insurance means it was operating in violation of international maritime law.
Estonia has been actively inspecting vessels since last year to ensure compliance with insurance and registration rules, especially after regional concerns over sabotage to undersea infrastructure.As of now, the ship remains under investigation
References: Reuters, Bloomberg
