Germany has not allowed an oil tanker – considered part of the Russian “ghost fleet” – to cross its waters towards the Baltic Sea, writes Süddeutsche Zeitung. The federal police stopped the Tavian vessel, under the flag of Cameroon, on the morning of January 10, due to suspicions of false registration and the use of a forged identification number. It was found to be a 27-year-old “zombie tanker” that has already changed its name 13 times. Previously, it was known under the names Tia and Arcusat.
The ship intended to pass through the Baltic Sea to Saint Petersburg, where important oil terminals are located. The German federal police sent a helicopter to Tavian and asked the crew to present the identification documents. The checks confirmed the suspicions, and the tanker was denied entry into German waters. The ship turned north and, according to data provided by Starboard Maritime Intelligence, is now heading towards the Norwegian Sea. From there it is relatively close to Murmansk – another important Russian oil port.
Germany first noticed the Tavian tanker in December 2025, when it was leaving the Baltic Sea. At that time, the German Navigation Safety Service announced that it was the first recorded case of a “zombie tanker” appearing in the country’s waters. However, the authorities were unable to stop it because it was in international waters. Subsequently, the ship headed towards Turkey.