Germany Detains Scanlark Cargo Ship on Suspicion of Spying For Russia

On September 7, special police units in Germany conducted a large-scale operation against the cargo ship Scanlark, which was moving through the Kiel Canal.

Armed special forces boarded the ship and checked the crew in connection with suspicions of espionage and possible acts of sabotage, the German newspaper SHZ reports.

Even before the Scanlark entered the Kiel-Goltenau lock, the observation deck was closed and the Canal’s webcams were turned off. Subsequently, divers joined the search and spent several hours exploring the ship’s hull.

The Kieler Nachrichten newspaper claims that during the search, materials were found on board that confirm suspicions of espionage. Police began storming the ship around 4 p.m. on Sunday and continued to search until Monday, detaining the crew and blocking access to the ship from the shore.

According to the Flensburg prosecutor’s office and the Schleswig-Holstein criminal police, there are strong grounds to believe that a drone was launched from the Scanlark on August 26. It allegedly flew over a German Navy warship to gather intelligence and record video.

Bild reported that it was a Russian spy drone, but this information has not yet been officially confirmed.

The Scanlark is a 40-year-old bulk carrier owned by the Estonian company Vista Shipagent. It flies the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and was heading from Rotterdam to Finland. According to Täglicher Hafenbericht, the crew consists of Russian citizens.