German authorities have said an oil tanker stuck in German waters belongs to Russia's "shadow fleet" intended to avoid sanctions. Germany's maritime authorities (CCME) said on Friday that the Panamanian-flagged ship, known as Eventin, had lost power and steering, meaning tugboats were deployed to secure the vessel.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said a heavily loaded oil tanker that Germany's maritime emergencies agency had to secure on January 10 in the Baltic Sea is part of the "shadow fleet" that Moscow uses to avoid sanctions on its oil exports.

Germany said on Jan. 11 that it had established towing connections with a disabled tanker Eventin, which it said was part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to avert sanctions, to prevent an oil spill in the Baltic Sea.

The oil tanker Eventin is believed to be part of Moscow’s efforts to evade sanctions - Greenpeace says it belongs to Russia's 'shadow fleet.'View on euronews

Germany was battling Saturday to secure a heavily loaded tanker stranded off its northern coast, towing the stricken ship that it said was part of Russia's sanctions-busting "shadow fleet" away

Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" not only bypasses Western sanctions but also poses a threat to the European Union, states German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for DW. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has criticized Russia’s use of aging vessels to transport oil and evade sanctions.

After the coastguard observed the ship, three tugboats were dispatched to secure the vessel. Apart from this, a team of towing specialists dropped onto the vessel by helicopter

An oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s efforts to evade international sanctions went adrift and had to be towed ashore by a German tugboat.

The tanker Eventin, which met with an accident in the Baltic Sea near the German island of Rügen, is being towed east by three tugboats for safety reasons. Source: spokesperson for Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies speaking to DW,