The Belgian government has imposed a surety of €10,020,000 on the Ethera, the oil tanker which is linked to Russia's shadow fleet. The Belgian judicial authorities seized the vessel that has now been in the port of Zeebrugge since Sunday. The ship will only be allowed to leave the port once the surety has been paid and a re-inspection has confirmed that the ship is in compliance with all the rules. Until then, the crew must remain on board.
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Belgium imposes €10 million surety on boarded Russian shadow fleet tanker
Colin Clapson
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The Ethera was boarded on Saturday night during Operation Blue Intruder. Inspectors from the Directorate-General for Shipping of the Belgian mobility ministry immediately arrived on board and were able to identify enough violations to divert the ship to Zeebrugge. After further inspections in the port, a total of 45 violations were identified.
Most of the violations relate to false certificates, as the ship was sailing under a false Guinean flag. Technical defects were also identified.
Crew must remain on board
Federal maritime police also carried out checks on board, including the identification of the 21 crew members. The crew consists of a Russian captain, 7 officers (of Indian, Georgian and Indonesian origin) and 13 other crew members, all of Indian origin.
The ship is subject to a so-called “passenger ban”. This means that the crew must remain on board and is not allowed to enter Belgian territory. The shipowner is responsible for the welfare and provisioning of the crew members for as long as the ban lasts.
‘Clear international signal’
Belgian justice minister and minister for the North Sea Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Cristian democrat CD&V) emphasises the importance of the operation. "Increasing geopolitical tensions and organised crime are making our seas, their critical infrastructure and shipping vulnerable. Operation “Blue Intruder” is a clear international signal that Belgium is also taking active measures against the shadow fleet and strengthening the security of vital infrastructure."
Jean-Luc Crucke (Francophone centrist Les Engagés), the Belgian mobility minister, also emphasises the importance of strict controls. ‘No concessions can be made in environmental and social terms. Ships crossing our waters must offer every guarantee of conformity and compliance with legislation. The ship will only leave the port once it is fully compliant and the surety has been paid.’
93 soldiers and a dog
The Ethera was boarded by the Belgian army on the high seas on Saturday night following intelligence reports that the ship was sailing under a false flag. The intervention had been prepared since January, in collaboration with French armed forces.
A total of 93 soldiers and one dog took part in the operation. By midnight, the soldiers had taken control of the bridge, and the ship was completely in their charge by 1:11 a.m.