Oil tanker inside as Estonian Navy attempts to Impound it
A Tussle in the Baltic: Estonia and the Oil Tanker
Here's the latest scoop on an interesting turn of events in the Baltic Sea.
An oil tanker, once bound for a Russian port, found itself in a standoff with the Estonian Navy. But it wasn't just a casual sail-by that lent aid to the troubled vessel; it looked suspiciously like a Russian jet flyover.
In a surprising twist, the Estonian Navy declared the flyover unacceptable and chose to let the tanker continue its journey.
In recent times, the Estonian Navy has been quite active in the Baltic Sea, particularly with oil tankers. Let's dive into the latest developments and reasons behind these actions:
Recent Events
- The Kiwala Saga: Back in April, the Estonian Navy detained an oil tanker called the "Kiwala" in the Gulf of Finland en route to Ust-Luga in Russia. The vessel was released after resolving numerous paperwork and technical issues[2][5].
- The Jaguar Escapade: On May 13, Estonia escorted the Gabonese-flagged tanker, "Jaguar," out of Estonian waters. The action was prompted by suspicions about the ship's flag state and to safeguard Estonia's underwater infrastructure, such as the EstLink power cables[4].
- The Su-35 Sighting: During the incident involving the Jaguar, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was spotted in Estonian airspace, acting as an escort for the tanker. This led to a diplomatic kerfuffle, with the Estonian Foreign Ministry summoning the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Embassy[2][3].
Underlying Motivations
- Shadow Fleet Monitoring: Estonia is vigilantly keeping tabs on Russia's "shadow fleet," a group of vessels used to sidestep international sanctions. These ships present environmental risks due to their deteriorated state and are closely monitored by Estonia and its allies[5].
- Environmental Concerns: The Baltic Sea, being shallow and environmentally fragile, is at risk from unchecked tankers, considering the region's shallow waters[5].
- Security Measures: The Estonian Navy's actions form part of broader security strategies to protect critical infrastructures and respond to potential threats from Russia[4][5].
- Diplomatic Frustrations: The airspace violation by a Russian fighter jet has fostered diplomatic discord between Estonia and Russia, mirroring ongoing geopolitical tension in the region[2][3].
- Estonia's latest action against an oil tanker, the 'Kiwala', reflects an ongoing industry focus in the Baltic Sea, where politics, finance, and energy sectors intertwine, with oil-and-gas being a crucial factor.
- The recent incident involving the Estonian Navy, a Russian fighter jet, and an oil tanker named 'Jaguar' underscores the complex relationship between war-and-conflicts, diplomacy, and maritime tensions in the region.
- In the face of war-and-conflicts and geopolitical turmoil, Estonia's Navy is taking proactive steps to address environmental concerns and secure general-news headlines, especially in regard to their ongoing efforts to monitor oil tankers and prevent any potential threats from the oil-and-gas industry.
