MARKET STRUCTURE · REGULATORY · EUROPE
Belgium seizes suspected Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker in the North Sea
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Belgium seized the oil tanker Ethera in its exclusive economic zone on Saturday night and escorted it to Zeebrugge harbour for official confiscation, Belgian authorities said Sunday.
Why Now
Belgian special forces boarded the tanker Ethera in the North Sea on Saturday night, supported by French helicopters. Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said the ship was seized in Belgium’s exclusive economic zone. Prosecutors said the vessel was falsely flying the flag of Guinea and that documents found onboard were suspected of being false. The captain, described as a Russian citizen, was being questioned and a criminal investigation was under way. Belgium escorted the ship to Zeebrugge harbour, where it will be officially confiscated.
Impact
- • Tanker Ethera is under Belgian control and being processed for official confiscation at Zeebrugge.
- • A Belgian criminal investigation is active, including questioning of the captain and review of suspected false documents.
- • Enforcement action has been executed against a vessel believed linked to sanctions circumvention.
Who Recalculates
- • Oil tanker operators and shipping companies
- • Ship captains and crews
- • Maritime insurers
- • Sanctions compliance and enforcement authorities
Source
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