Germany was yesterday racing to secure a heavily loaded tanker stranded off its northern coast, towing the stricken ship it said was part of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet” away from shore to avert an oil spill.
The 274m-long Eventin was sailing from Russia to Egypt with almost 100,000 tonnes of oil on board when its engine failed and it lost the ability to maneuver, Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said.
As the vessel drifted in coastal waters on Friday, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock slammed Russia’s use of “dilapidated oil tankers” to avoid sanctions on its oil exports, calling it a threat to European security.
Photo: AFP
Three tugs have linked up with the Eventin and are attempting to steer it northeast, away from the coast and toward a “safer” area where there is “more sea space,” the command said, adding that it had taken “safety measures” due to rough seas, with 2.5m high waves and strengthening wind gusts.
The ship was intercepted off the island of Rugen, having come within 14km of the coast.
No oil leaks were detected by several surveillance overflights, authorities said on Friday. Responders have passed radios and flashlights to the stranded crew.
It would take about eight hours to pull the Eventin roughly 25km to safer waters northeast of Cape Arkona, the command said early yesterday, adding they expected it to arrive by mid-morning.
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