Estonia Detains Sanctioned Oil Tanker Without Flag En Route To Russia
The Estonian Navy detained a Russia-bound oil tanker on April 11, 2025, after it entered the country’s territorial waters in the Baltic Sea without a valid national flag and with questionable legal status. The vessel, named Kiwala, has been under European Union sanctions since February and is suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”
The term “shadow fleet” is used by Western nations to describe vessels that are used by Moscow to dodge international sanctions and move oil without proper oversight. These ships often operate without standard insurance or registration and are not regulated by traditional maritime systems.
According to shipping data, Kiwala was on its way from the port of Sikka in India to the Russian port of Ust-Luga when it was intercepted by Estonian authorities. The vessel was initially flying the flag of Djibouti, but officials from the Estonian Transport Authority stated that Djibouti had denied registering the ship.
Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that a sanctioned vessel with no flag had been detained. He added that Estonia takes any suspicious maritime activity in the Baltic Sea very seriously.
The EU had earlier flagged Kiwala for using high-risk and irregular shipping practices to transport Russian oil. Kristjan Truu, Director of the Maritime Division at the Estonian Transport Authority, confirmed that the crew and the ship’s master cooperated during the operation. He also said that the detention was carried out over suspicions that the ship lacked a valid flag state.
Naval ships and helicopters were involved in the coordinated operation, which began on Thursday evening and concluded on Friday morning as the vessel entered Estonian waters. It is now anchored in Muuga Bay, with two Estonian warships positioned nearby.
Estonian Naval Commander Ivo Vark explained at a press briefing that the main objective of the detention was to verify the ship’s documents and legal status. He made it clear that the operation was not connected to any damage to subsea infrastructure, which is a growing concern in the Baltic region.
Veiko Kommusaar, Deputy Chief of Police and head of the Estonian Border guard, mentioned that over the past year, several undocumented ships have appeared in the Baltic Sea. According to him, these vessels are likely part of Russia’s shadow fleet, designed to bypass international monitoring and regulations.
The Estonian Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, discussed the importance of this action, calling it the first time Estonia has detained a shadow fleet vessel. The crew of Kiwala consisted of 24 members, including a Chinese national serving as the Captain. The vessel’s lack of valid documentation and insurance means it was operating in violation of international maritime law.
Deputy Police Chief Kommusaar said that such ships are not legally allowed to sail without proof of registration and insurance. Estonia has been actively inspecting vessels since last year to ensure compliance with insurance and registration rules, especially after regional concerns over sabotage to undersea infrastructure.
However, officials clarified that Kiwala’s detention is not related to those incidents. As of now, the ship remains under investigation while Estonia awaits confirmation from Djibouti regarding the vessel’s registration claims. No environmental harm or damage to undersea cables has been reported.
References: Reuters, Bloomberg