EVENTIN
Die letzten Häfen
Die letzten Wegpunkte
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Two urgent proceedings closed
Regarding the "Eventin", still carrying nearly 100,000 tons of Russian oil, and being anchored off the island of Rügen, there will be no immediate change to this situation. The Hamburg Fiscal Court has declared two urgent proceedings closed, with the consent of the Federal Customs Administration; the court announced this decision on Aug 20. This meant the legal dispute regarding the oil tanker—which was considered part of the Russian "shadow fleet"—was going on. The German authorities had impounded both the cargo and the vessel after the tanker was disabled off Rügen island in January 2025. The owners of the cargo and the tanker had filed both a lawsuit and a request for urgent proceedings with the Hamburg Fiscal Court. A decision will be made during the main proceedings, according to the court. It was still unclear when that will happen; a spokesperson for the Hamburg Fiscal Court noted that such proceedings typically take a year. The lawsuits were filed there in the spring. Previously, the Greifswald Fiscal Court and the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) in Munich had already expressed doubts about the legality of the seizure. The BFH stated that the tanker had not entered coastal waters intentionally but rather due to an engine failure; consequently, the law regarding "ports of refuge" applied, allowing any distressed vessel to head for a port. The BFH had referred the case to the Hamburg Fiscal Court for a final ruling. While the mooring location, situated approximately five nautical miles off the east coast of the island of Rügen, is consequently considered safe. Nevertheless, additional tugboats have been stationed to ensure a rapid response in the event of an emergency. The Coast Guard was monitoring the site.
Legal dispute has reached the Hamburg Finance Court
The legal dispute surrounding the "Eventin" has reached the Hamburg Finance Court. The court announced that a lawsuit and a corresponding preliminary injunction were pending. Both were directed against the confiscation and disposal of the cargo by customs. One year ago, the German Federal Ministry of Finance had announced that the ship had been seized and impounded by German customs. With 99,000 tons of Russian oil on board, all systems of the "Eventin" failed in early 2025. The ship was secured and has been moored off the coast of Rügen ever since. At the owner's request, the Greifswald Tax Court suspended the corresponding orders. The Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) in Munich upheld this decision at the end of 2025. This was an expedited proceeding. The case now concerns a decision in the main proceedings. The lawsuit was filed by the owner of the cargo and also challenges the seizure and impoundment of the cargo by customs in connection with the European Union's sanctions against Russia. The EU listed the 20-year-old vessel as part of the so-called shadow fleet, which Russia uses to circumvent sanctions, but only after the accident. The owner has filed a lawsuit against the listing with the EU General Court. He argues that the ship "never intended to transport sanctioned oil products to the European Union." This happened unintentionally due to the technical defect and was therefore "covered by the right to put into a port of refuge." The additional expedited proceedings at the Hamburg Finance Court aimed to prevent the immediate confiscation and sale of the cargo. There was no date when a court decision migh be expected. A response to an inquiry with the General Directorate of Customs regarding the proceedings was still pending.
Legal wrangle going on
The legal dispute surrounding the "Eventin," which remained moored off the coast of Rügen, continued. A main hearing wss now pending before the Hamburg Finance Court. Customs officials initially intended to seize and dispose of the vessel and its cargo. However, in Dec 2025, the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) in Munich, in an expedited proceeding, halted these orders on appeal. As of March 20, the tanker remained stationary in pos. 54° 25' N 013° 48' E.
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