Belgium sets €10m bail for seized Russian tanker

Belgium has set bail at €10 million for the Russian-owned tanker Ethera, part of Moscow's shadow fleet, after seizing it on 1 March. The Kremlin has used the fleet to circumvent Western restrictions on its energy sector imposed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"Our government is taking decisive action against shadow fleet vessels. This operation ensures EU sanctions are enforced, protects the North Sea and curbs the funding of Russia's war in Ukraine," Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken, as quoted by the Dutch-language newspaper HLN.

The Ethera will be allowed to set sail again once the bail is paid, inspections are completed and the correct flag and certificates are obtained.

Until then, the 21-member crew, including the Russian captain, seven officers and 13 other crew members, mostly of Indian origin, must remain on board.

Belgian forces seized the Ethera, which is subject to EU and UK sanctions, on 1 March. The vessel had been sailing under a false Guinean flag.

Belgian authorities identified 45 violations, mainly concerning forged certificates.

The Belgian federal prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the Ethera.

On 22 January, France, with the support of the United Kingdom, detained the Grinch, a Russian shadow fleet tanker, off the coast of Spain after inspecting documents that confirmed suspicions the vessel was sailing under a false flag. The ship is subject to EU and UK sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had informed him of plans to release the tanker due to legal requirements.