Belgian Authorities Impose €10m Bail for Seized Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker
Belgian authorities have imposed bail of more than 10 million Euros (11.6 million dollars) on a seized oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia‘s shadow fleet.
According to the Belgian news agency Belga, reported on Wednesday, the vessel named Ethera was boarded on Sunday by Belgian and French forces while reportedly sailing under the flag of Guinea on its way back to Russia. Authorities identified 45 infringements, primarily involving falsified documentation and the use of a false flag.
The shadow fleet refers to a network of tankers used by Moscow to circumvent the international oil price cap imposed on Russian fossil fuel exports following the invasion of Ukraine. Ships in the network were accused of obscuring the origin of Russian oil by switching off or manipulating satellite transponders and conducting ship-to-ship transfers in international waters.
Crew Remains On Board as Vessel Awaits Inspection
The vessel will only be permitted to sail once the 10,020,000 Euros bail is paid and a fresh inspection confirmed it complied with regulations. Until then, the 21-member crew will remain on board. The crew includes a Russian captain, seven officers from India, Georgia, and Indonesia, and 13 additional crew members from India.
The seizure of the Ethera highlights the efforts of international authorities to crack down on Russia‘s attempts to circumvent sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The move is seen as a significant step forward in the global effort to enforce economic penalties against Moscow.
Original Article: Belgium sets €10m bail for seized Russian shadow fleet tanker — Pmnewsnigeria