Overview

• Estonian authorities have detained the oil tanker 'Kiwala' due to 40 documented issues, including 23 related to paperwork and the rest to seaworthiness.
• Officials have classified the tanker as stateless, with conflicting flag information indicating Djibouti, which the country denies.
• The 'Kiwala' is confirmed to be on international sanctions lists from the EU, UK, Canada, and Switzerland, and was reportedly en route to the Russian port of Ust-Luga.
• Estonian officials allege the tanker is part of Russia's shadow fleet, a network used to evade sanctions and linked to hybrid threats in the Baltic region.
• Authorities stress that allowing the vessel to continue its journey would pose significant risks to maritime safety and environmental security.