Estonia detains tanker of Russian shadow fleet for the first time

On 11 April 2025, Estonia detained for the first time the oil tanker Kiwala, which is part of Russia's shadow fleet. The vessel was travelling to the Russian port of Ust-Luga without cargo and violated the sanctions regime by flying no flag, which prohibited it from sailing in international waters. The tanker is subject to sanctions imposed by the EU and three other countries, including Canada, Switzerland and the UK.

Estonian authorities detained the vessel to check its documents and legal status. The inspection revealed that the tanker was not registered under the flag of Djibouti, although it had initially provided a certificate of this flag. The tanker is operated by Tirad Shipping Inc (Mauritius), which is part of the shadow fleet that transports Russian oil, circumventing international sanctions.

Source: Babel