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Estonian naval forces have intercepted a tanker in the Baltic Sea that was sailing without a national flag, in direct violation of international maritime law. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Kriištjan Mihal via social media.
“This morning, our navy stopped a sanctioned vessel traveling without a national flag. Relevant authorities are now inspecting its legal status and security conditions,” he wrote.
Where was the tanker headed?
According to Estonian media, the vessel was en route to Ust-Luga, Russia’s main oil export port in the Baltic. It had reportedly been previously registered in Djibouti, but was sailing without any flag at the time of interception.
Helicopters were involved in the operation, and the tanker was stopped near the Tallinn Gulf.
What is Russia’s “shadow fleet”?
Western officials claim Russia operates a so-called “shadow fleet” in the Baltic — hundreds of unflagged and undocumented tankers used to bypass sanctions on oil and gas exports.
Estonian border guard representative Veiko Kommusaar stated:
“Over the past year, we've seen a surge in undocumented vessels in the Gulf of Finland. It's clear these are part of Russia's shadow fleet.”
Estonia authorizes use of force
This week, Estonia’s parliament passed a law that allows naval forces to use force against commercial ships that pose a threat to the country’s undersea infrastructure.
This includes protection of subsea power lines, communication cables, and energy routes.
For context, in December 2023, Finland detained another unflagged tanker suspected of damaging an undersea power cable between Estonia and Finland.
What do you think — is using military force against vessels violating maritime law a justified and secure solution?
12:20, 3-04-2025
