Belgium sets €10m bail for seized Russian shadow fleet tanker

Belgian authorities have imposed bail of more than 10 million Euros (11.6 million dollars) on a seized oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

This is according to the Belgian news agency Belga as reported on Wednesday.

The vessel, named Ethera, was boarded on Sunday by Belgian and French forces while reportedly sailing under the flag of Guinea on its way back to Russia.

Authorities identified 45 infringements, primarily involving falsified documentation and the use of a false flag.

The shadow fleet referred to a network of tankers used by Moscow to circumvent the international oil price cap imposed on Russian fossil fuel exports following the invasion of Ukraine.

Ships in the network were accused of obscuring the origin of Russian oil by switching off or manipulating satellite transponders and conducting ship-to-ship transfers in international waters.

Belga reported that the vessel will only be permitted to sail once the 10,020,000 Euros bail is paid and a fresh inspection confirmed it complied with regulations, until then, the 21-member crew will remain on board.

The crew includes a Russian captain, seven officers from India, Georgia and Indonesia, and 13 additional crew members from India.

(dpa/NAN)