Spiegel, citing anonymous security sources, reported that Germany had confiscated an old tanker, found drifting off its northern coast, believed to be a part of the shadow fleet Russia used to circumvent oil sanction.

German authorities seized the Panama-flagged vessel, named Eventin, after it was found near Ruegen Island in the Baltic Sea. This prompted Berlin to rebuke Moscow.

Spiegel reported that the confiscation order for the tanker was issued. This means the vessel, and its cargo, which is around 100,000 metric tonnes of oil worth about 40 million euros ($43.33 millions), will now be German property.

Email requests for comments were not immediately responded to by the local customs office or the German Foreign Office.

The old tanker that was travelling from Russia to Egypt also raised environmental concerns about a possible oil spill.

Eventin was included as part of the 16th package targeting Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The package was designed to increase pressure on Russia's "shadow fleet", which is a term used to describe vessels that are used to transport oil, weapons and grains in violation of sanctions. The vessels are neither regulated nor insured by traditional Western providers.

(source: Reuters)