Germany has denied entry to the oil tanker Tavian into its territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. This is unprecedented: European countries have not previously imposed a direct ban on the passage of vessels classified as part of the so-called “shadow fleet.”
📍The tanker was stopped by German federal police off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein while en route to the Baltic. The vessel was coming from the Atlantic and, according to monitoring data, was heading for Russian ports. During the inspection, authorities raised serious doubts about the authenticity of the vessel’s documents and identification data.
According to the authorities, the Tavian exhibits characteristics of a so-called “zombie tanker”: the vessel has repeatedly changed names and flags, and is involved in sanctions-busting oil transportation operations. Such vessels often use false or confusing registration data and turn off their AIS to conceal their routes.
❌ After being denied entry into German waters, the tanker changed course and headed north, toward the Norwegian Sea. Thus, its access to the Baltic Sea was effectively blocked.
✈️ This incident is seen as a strong signal of a change in Europe’s approach to controlling the “shadow fleet.” Previously, measures were limited primarily to inspections, detentions, and document checks. Now, Germany has demonstrated its willingness to directly block routes for vessels suspected of evading sanctions.
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