Germany Faces Oil Spill Threat as Stranded Tanker Linked to Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Rescued

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Germany is urgently responding to a critical situation involving the 274-meter-long tanker Eventin, which became stranded off its northern coast while carrying nearly 100,000 tonnes of oil. The vessel, en route from Russia to Egypt, suffered an engine failure and lost its ability to maneuver, prompting fears of a potential oil spill in coastal waters.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned Russia's reliance on "dilapidated oil tankers" to bypass sanctions, labeling it a significant risk to European security. As the Eventin drifted perilously close to the coast, emergency measures were put in place due to rough sea conditions that included 2.5-meter waves and strong winds.

Three tugboats are currently engaged in towing the Eventin away from the shore to a safer area. No oil leaks have been detected following surveillance flights over the area. The German maritime authorities expect the tanker to be relocated approximately 25 kilometers to safer waters northeast of Cape Arkona within eight hours.

This incident has raised alarms as the tanker operates under a Panamanian flag, but the German authorities link it to Russia's sanctions-evading 'shadow fleet.' The escalation of this shadow fleet, which has surged since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, highlights the complexities surrounding the sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia's oil industry.

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