Estonia detains shadow tanker

Estonian authorities detained an 18-year-old tanker on Friday for flying a false flag, the first time a Baltic littoral state has taken such action against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. 

Kristjan Truu, director of Estonia’s Maritime Department of the Transport Administration, said 40 problems have been detected with the Kiwala tanker, 23 of them having to do with documentation and the rest involving its seaworthiness. These will all need to be fixed before the vessel can carry on its journey to the Russian port of Ust-Luga. 

The ship had claimed to be flying the flag of Djibouti, but the East African country quickly responded by saying it had de-registered the tanker. Shipping databases show that the vessel was de-registered on January 1 this year. 

The vessel, sanctioned by many nations, is currently anchored in Muuga Bay and remains under surveillance by the Estonian Navy.

Currently owned by Tirad Shipping from Mauritius, it appears to have Chinese links, having also been owned by India’s Gatik Ship Management, a previous big name in shifting Russian oil.