The owner of the Ethera, the oil tanker that was boarded by the Belgian military earlier this month, is taking legal action against the Belgian state over a 10-million-euro bond that has been imposed on the vessel.
The tanker was intercepted by the Belgian military on 1 March during Operation Blue Intruder. It has since been held at the West Flemish port of Zeebrugge. The authorities say that is linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”. These are non-Russian flagged ships used to transport Russian oil and thus dodging international sanctions.
Following an inspection, officials identified 45 violations on board. These included false certificates linked to the ship sailing under a Guinean flag, as well as several technical faults. Belgian authorities subsequently imposed a bond of 10,020,000 euro. The tanker will only be allowed to leave port once the bond is paid and a new inspection confirms the vessel complies with maritime regulations.
However, owner of the ship has now filed a writ against the Belgian authorities, reportedly arguing that the boarding operation was unlawful and that the vessel should be released. Belgian Justice Department officials say the move is not unexpected given the large financial stakes involved. They add that the owner is likely to be exploring all legal options to avoid paying the bond. Meanwhile, the Ethera will remain at Zeebrugge while the case proceeds.
Crew members not allowed off
The 21 crew members have to stay on board and are not permitted to enter Belgium. The crew includes a Russian captain, several officers from India, Georgia and Indonesia and 13 other crew members, all of whom from India. The ship’s owner is responsible for providing for their food and welfare.
Belgian authorities say there is no deadline for paying the bond. The owner can either pay the amount demanded and put things right or wait for the administrative and criminal procedures to conclude. This could result in a fine, which if not paid could result in the vessel being permanently seized and sold.