Belgian Authorities Set €10.02m Cash Deposit for Detained EU-Sanctioned Tanker Ethera
Belgian authorities have set a cash deposit of €10,020,000 ($10.9m) for the detained tanker Ethera after inspectors uncovered dozens of violations during a North Sea boarding, according to Belgium‘s federal prosecutor’s office.
The vessel was boarded in Belgium‘s exclusive economic zone after authorities suspected it was operating within Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and sailing under a false Guinean flag. Inspectors confirmed indications of a false flag during the onboard inspection and found ship documents suspected of being false.
Violations and Compliance Issues
Inspectors identified 45 violations during the inspection, most linked to false certificates associated with the suspected false-flag status. The tanker was escorted to Zeebrugge following the boarding operation carried out with French support under “Operation Blue Intruder.” Ethera is a 2007-built product tanker.
Belgian officials said the vessel appears on the European Union’s sanctions list. The authorities have ordered the tanker to divert into Belgian territorial waters for further checks, and it will not be allowed to sail until the deposit has been paid and a follow-up inspection confirms full compliance, including securing a flag state, holding valid certificates, and rectifying technical deficiencies.
Sanctions Enforcement and Maritime Offences
Belgium‘s federal prosecutor’s office is the national judicial authority responsible for conducting criminal investigations and prosecutions under federal jurisdiction, including sanctions enforcement, maritime offences, and cross-border criminal activity affecting Belgium’s territory and maritime zones. The office has opened a criminal investigation into the suspected violations and will continue to monitor the situation.
The boarding operation was part of a broader effort by European authorities to crack down on vessels operating in violation of EU sanctions. The move is seen as a significant step in the enforcement of these sanctions, which aim to prevent Russia from circumventing international restrictions through its “shadow fleet” of tankers and other vessels.
Original Article: Belgium orders €10.02m deposit for detained EU-sanctioned tanker Ethera — Portnews