Tensions Rise in Baltic Sea as Russia Detains Greek-Owned Tanker En Route from Estonia

Russia has detained the Green Admire tanker, which was transiting through Russian territorial waters on a pre-agreed route.

Estonia’s public broadcaster, ERR, reported the incident.

According to Estonia’s Department of Transport, the vessel, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker owned by Greek shipping company Aegean Shipping, had departed from the port of Sillamäe and was bound for Rotterdam carrying a cargo of shale oil.

The department’s Shipping Management Division, which monitors maritime traffic in Estonian waters, said it recorded the detention of the vessel by Russian authorities on Sunday, May 18.

Large vessels departing from Sillamäe typically navigate through Russian territorial waters to avoid the shallow areas of Estonia’s coastline. Estonia, Russia, and Finland had previously coordinated this route.

In response to the incident, Estonian officials said they plan to redirect future vessel traffic to remain strictly within Estonian territorial waters to prevent further detentions.

The Department of Transport noted that no similar incidents had been recorded before.

Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Detention

The detention comes just days after a separate maritime confrontation involving a vessel linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”

On May 14, the Estonian Navy attempted to intercept the Jaguar, a Gabonese-flagged tanker en route to the Russian port of Primorsk through international waters in the Gulf of Finland.

The interception effort involved an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter, an M28 Skytruck aircraft, and the patrol boat EML Raju.

In response, Russia deployed a Su-35S fighter jet to shadow the tanker.

Estonian authorities said the Jaguar’s crew ignored instructions to change course and later anchored near Gogland Island in the eastern Baltic Sea.

According to the Estonian Ministry of Defense, the Russian jet failed to establish two-way radio contact with Estonian air traffic controllers, in violation of international aviation protocols.

Portuguese F-16 fighter jets based at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission were scrambled in response.