Petrolero Eventin, which is believed to be part of the efforts of Russia to avoid sanctions, already towed safer waters by a German tugboat in January, after being discovered to drift in the sea often in front of the Baltic coast.
German customs authorities They seized the PetroLifera Eventin company, with a flag of Panama, which had been anchored off the German coast of the Baltic Sea since January. The ship is believed to be part of the Called “Flot Ghost” Russiato of occupied oil ownership and non -cross safety practices which, according to western governments, Moscow is used to avoid penalties and keep the Flow of oil income.
Safety sources declared to the German magazine “Der Spiegel” that the Directorate General of Customs had issued An order of confiscation And that both the oil tanker and the approximately 100,000 tons of crude oil, worth over 40 million euros, will now be German properties.
According to the report, the German government He decided to confiscate the ship instead of letting him go After in February he appeared in the list of Russian fleet in the shade. He added that the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believe that this approach aims to send a signal to Russia that Germany will not be left with crossed weapons while Russian oil travels through the Baltic Sea.
Avoid international oil sanctions
The ghost fleet It is formed by old oil tankers.Often from small transparent entities with houses in countries not subject to sanctions, such as the United Arab Emirates or the Marshall Islands, and the bearer in places such as Gabon or the Cook Islands.
The new owners They remind Russia insurers or other non -western places. Some ships are owned by the Russian Naviera Sovencomflot. Its function is to help Russian oil exporters To avoid the limit of 60 dollars per barrel imposed by the allies of Ukraine.
The goal of these ceilings is to limit the benefits of Russia and, at the same time, maintain the oil flow to the world markets and Avoid an energy crisis This would increase petrol prices and inflation.
Estimates varyBut S&P Global and the Institute of the Kyiv Economy School have encrypted over 400 ships capable of transporting oil or products derived from crude oil, such as diesel and petrol.
According to the experts of the sanctionsAvoiding the limit has increased the price that Russia obtains for its oil in the world markets. Export income has reached an average of $ 16.4 billion a month during the first 11 months of 2024, 5% more than in the same period of 2023, when Russian oil reached an average of $ 64 per barrel, according to the Kyiv economic school. To avoid the former intended for Russia $ 9.4 billion more.
This means that it also influences the road Russia continues its war in UkraineSince the Kremlin can use that advantage to pay the production of weapons and other goods for the army.
Oil revenues promote stability Economic help to keep the budget deficit under control and support the value of the Russian ruble in the face of other currencies. Oil keeps the commercial balance From Russia to surplus, which means it sells more than it purchases from the rest of the world and has money to pay imports.
Consequentially, “Russia does not face significant restrictions In their budget or in their war expenses, “says the experts of the Kiev school in their last evaluation of the Russian economy. So far the Kremlin has refused to comment on the shadow fleet.
