Military Space News
FLOATING STEEL
Estonia navy detains suspected 'shadow fleet' tanker
Estonia navy detains suspected 'shadow fleet' tanker
by AFP Staff Writers
Tallinn (AFP) April 11, 2025

Estonia's navy said it detained on Friday an oil tanker believed to belong to Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Gulf of Finland in order to check its papers.

The navy stressed that there was no danger to critical infrastructure. Previous incidents had seen underwater cables damaged in suspected sabotage.

Security analysts say Russia is operating a large "shadow fleet" of hundreds of vessels, seeking to dodge the sanctions Western nations imposed on its oil exports over the war in Ukraine.

Several undersea Baltic cables were damaged last year, with many experts calling it part of a "hybrid war" carried out by Russia against Western countries.

"The purpose of detaining the ship was to check its papers and legal status," Estonian navy commander Ivo Vark told reporters.

"The detention and the investigations carried out are in no way related to damage to critical infrastructure," he added.

The vessel, the Kiwala, is under sanctions from Canada, the European Union, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and was on its way to the Russian port of Ust-Luga, according to Vark.

The navy said its inspection found the Kiwala to be stateless. A certificate saying it sailed under the flag of Djibouti was disputed by the African country, it added.

"It's no secret that during this last year enough vessels without papers have appeared in the Gulf of Finland," Estonian border guard head Veiko Kommusaar said.

"And it's safe to say this is part of the shadow fleet," he added.

Kommusaar said the captain was Chinese, with most of the 24-member crew from either China or Mauritania.

Estonia's leading Postimees daily reported that the tanker is owned by Tirad Shipping Inc, which has just this one ship and is registered in Mauritius.

Related Links
Naval Warfare in the 21st Century

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FLOATING STEEL
Panama deal allows US to deploy troops to canal
Panama City (AFP) April 11, 2025
US troops will be able to deploy to a string of bases along the Panama Canal under a joint deal seen by AFP Thursday, a major concession to President Donald Trump as he seeks to reestablish influence over the vital waterway. The agreement, signed by top security officials from both countries, allows US military personnel to deploy to Panama-controlled facilities for training, exercises and "other activities." The deal stops short of allowing the United States to build its own permanent bases on ... read more

FLOATING STEEL
Israeli military says missile fired from Yemen

Ukraine needs 10 more Patriot air defence systems: Zelensky

Israeli army says intercepts missile fired from Yemen

NATO takes Ukraine lessons into Europe's top air defence drills

FLOATING STEEL
Russian missile strike on Ukraine city kills 34

Germany sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine risks 'escalation': Kremlin

Russian strike on city centre in Ukraine's Sumy kills 21

US approves $1bn missile sale to Australia

FLOATING STEEL
Ukrainian drone strike kills one in Russia's Kursk: authorities

Japan jets scrambled at Chinese drones up threefold on-year

Israel says intercepts drone claimed by Huthis

US to deploy large surveillance drones to Japan's Okinawa

FLOATING STEEL
CesiumAstro joins Taiwan's initiative to build LEO satellite network

Senator questions canceling planned military satellites in favor of SpaceX

Skyloom completes OCT hardware deliveries for SDA York mission

SES and SpeQtral join forces to enable secure quantum communications across continents

FLOATING STEEL
Germany leads allies in $24B military aid package for Ukraine

Finland to leave anti-personnel mine treaty

Trump nominee says to press UK on Israel arms

Three of four US soldiers missing in Lithuania found dead

FLOATING STEEL
Hegseth cuts $5.1B in spending on 'wasteful' Pentagon consulting contracts

Japan, NATO pledge increased defense cooperation to counter Russia, China

US Senate approves Trump's nominee for top military officer

Court to rule on Danish arms sales to Israel case

FLOATING STEEL
Beijing slams 'manipulation and hype' over Chinese soldiers captured in Ukraine

E. Europe watching closely as US weighs troop numbers

Trump carves up world and international order with it

Xi calls on China, Vietnam to 'oppose unilateral bullying' on regional tour

FLOATING STEEL
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.