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Tanker Eventin: Legal dispute over oil supplies off Rügen is coming to a head!
Legal proceedings regarding the oil tanker “Eventin” off Rügen: Greifswald Finance Court suspends confiscation, new decision is pending.
Tanker Eventin: Legal dispute over oil supplies off Rügen is coming to a head!
What is the oil tanker “Eventin” doing off the coast of Rügen? A legal tug-of-war over the ship flying the Panamanian flag is currently causing a lot of excitement. The tanker, which belongs to the Russian shadow fleet, was discovered disabled in the Baltic Sea in January this year and with around 100,000 tons of oil on board. The value of this cargo is estimated at around 40 million euros. The ship had originally planned a route from Ust-Luga in Russia to Port Said in Egypt, but failures in all systems led to the accident.
The financial court in Greifswald has temporarily suspended the immediate confiscation of the tanker and the cargo. This happened as part of an ongoing appeal process by the ship's owner, who expressed serious doubts about the confiscation order. Therefore, the decision on the complaint lodged by the customs authorities with the Federal Finance Court is still pending. Although there are no negotiation dates yet, until final clarification no action can be taken regarding the ship or its cargo, such as pumping out the oil or selling the cargo.
Legal proceedings underway
The situation surrounding the “Eventin” is complicated by the ongoing proceedings at the main customs office. According to the tax court, it is still unclear whether the ship owner can rely on an exception - a review that can only take place in the main proceedings. Even if the main proceedings have not yet been scheduled, the admission of the complaint allows the main customs office to have the case reviewed by the Federal Finance Court.
The Federal Ministry of Finance emphasized in March that the confiscation was accompanied by the legal requirements for the tanker to be sold. The “Eventin” is currently safely moored in the Nordperd roadstead, only about three nautical miles from its previous berth position. Ships carrying dangerous goods such as oil can stay here safely, which is important given the circumstances.
A mixed view
Further developments remain exciting. If the court ultimately confirms the confiscation, this would give the federal government the opportunity to deal with the oil and the ship, for example by pumping it out and recycling it. However, the customs check is still ongoing and the ship is not allowed to continue sailing. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Finance did not confirm that the oil had already been confiscated, but the entire process surrounding the “Eventin” remains fluid and characterized by uncertainty.
Whether customs officials will have to consider security issues in international waters if the oil is pumped out and can even request military escort is also being examined. The whole matter impressively shows how complex and multi-layered maritime legal issues can be, especially in such tense geopolitical situations.
The next few weeks and months will be crucial for the future of the “Eventin” and the legal framework surrounding the ship. The networking between customs authorities, shipping and legal authorities is a central factor here and also a test case for the sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet.
In the meantime, the fate of the oil tanker and the dangerous cargo off Rügen remains in limbo. This means that not only the ship, but also the entire material and legal substance is at stake.