A disabled oil tanker off the northeast coast of Rügen, Germany has sparked environmental concerns as it drifts with 99,000 tons of oil aboard. The tanker, named Eventin, has been immobilized due to machinery failure.
The situation became dire on Thursday night when the Eventin lost power and began drifting uncontrollably north of the island of Rügen. This prompted immediate action from the German Havariekomando, the emergency response team tasked with managing maritime incidents. According to reports from the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), the tanker is structurally sound, and officials have stated there is currently no immediate danger to the environment.
"The ship is tight, there is no environmental danger," said a spokeswoman for Havariekomando. It appears the crew of 24 remain on board, and evacuations have not been necessary.
The tanker had departed from Ust-Luga, Russia, and was scheduled to arrive at Port Said, Egypt. Its intended route and cargo raise additional alarms, as the Eventin is listed by Greenpeace as part of the so-called Russian shadow fleet, known for transporting oil to bypass sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
Conditions worsened with the onset of storms, contributing to the complexity of rescue operations. Reports indicated gusts of up to force seven and wave heights reaching up to two and a half meters. Havariekomando has deployed additional vessels, including the emergency tug Bremen Fighter, and summoned expert teams to secure the vessel.
"We might escape with just damage, but we need to be vigilant," expressed Till Backhaus, the Environment Minister for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, reflecting on the potential threats posed by such incidents. He emphasized the constant monitoring of the shadow fleet's movements, stating, "Since months, we have been observing the movements of the so-called Russian shadow fleet with great concern."
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the situation, stressing the dangerous precedent set by such hijinks involving older, dilapidated oil tankers. "With the ruthless use of rusty tankers, Putin not only circumvents sanctions, but risks crippling tourism around the Baltic Sea."
Baerbock's remarks bring attention to the wider geopolitical issues surrounding the Baltic region, highlighting the delicate balance between security and environmental safety.
With various agencies working together amid the chaotic weather, rescue efforts are still being coordinated with the local port authorities. The situation remains fluid, with the Eventin expected to be towed to either Rostock or another harbor deemed safe for offloading the oil. Efforts are being made to distribute the oil cargo securely across the responding tugboats.
Historically, the Baltic Sea has had its share of maritime incidents. Just weeks prior to the Eventin episode, the small oil tanker Annika suffered a fire incident which fortunately resulted without any environmental damage. Such precedents bring greater scrutiny toward maritime activity within heavily trafficked waters.
The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research expressed initial confidence, stating they would continue to monitor the situation closely. With over 2000 vessels typically transiting the Baltic daily, they noted the inherent risks of the region’s busy shipping lanes.
While the situation around the Eventin is being assessed and managed, experts and officials alike remain worried about the long-term safety of the Baltic Sea ecosystem, calling for proactive measures to prevent similar occurrences due to aging vessels found within the shadow fleet.
Thilo Maack from Greenpeace remarked, "The Eventin is just the latest example of how ships from the Russian shadow fleet threaten the Baltic coast daily. The recent EU sanctions are a good step, but far from enough to protect the Baltic."
Looking forward, there is hope for both the crew and the environment, but authorities will be on high alert as they explore solutions for safer maritime traffic and proactive engagement with environmental protections surrounding such incidents.