Estonia Detains Cargo Ship With Russian Crew Over Suspected Smuggling

Estonian authorities have detained a refrigerated cargo ship sailing under the Bahamian flag after suspecting it may have been used for smuggling.

The vessel, Baltic Spirit, was intercepted in Estonia’s internal waters while travelling from Ecuador to St. Petersburg, Russia. The detention took place late on Tuesday, February 3, near Naissaar.

According to the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, the ship had entered Estonian waters to refuel and take on supplies and was anchored at an official anchorage when the operation was carried out.

Authorities said there were reasons to believe the vessel could be linked to smuggling activity from South America.

The operation involved officials from the Investigation Department of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, supported by the police and the navy.

The police special unit K-Commando boarded the ship using a helicopter from the Police and Border Guard Board. Naval vessels Raju and Admiral Cowan, along with a state pilot boat, supported the operation.

The Transport Administration also participated, with reports indicating that more than 50 personnel were involved.

Officials said the ship’s crew, made up of 23 Russian nationals, did not resist and are cooperating with the inspection.

The Baltic Spirit is a 16,580-dwt refrigerated containership built in 2018 and registered in the Bahamas. It is operated by Cool Carriers, a company based in Cyprus and Sweden.

When launched, the vessel was described by its operator as a major step forward, with capacity for about 5,700 pallets and 268 refrigerated containers.

Authorities said the inspection is expected to take time due to the large number of containers on board and the need to check various possible hiding places.

An initial search is being carried out while the ship remains at anchorage, after which it is expected to be moved to a berth for a more detailed inspection.

Officials indicated that the vessel may be linked specifically to smuggling from Ecuador but declined to provide further details as the investigation is ongoing.

The Estonian Tax and Customs Board said that, based on information available to the navy, the ship is not part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and is not subject to European Union sanctions.

In recent weeks, Germany denied a tanker associated with the shadow fleet entry into the Baltic Sea after its unusual route attracted attention.

The British Royal Navy has also recently expelled a Russian vessel from the Bristol Channel after it anchored near critical undersea cables.

In January, French naval forces detained a tanker in the Mediterranean believed to be part of the shadow fleet while it was sailing from Russia.

References: Shipping Telegraph, ERR