The Liberian-flagged "Green Admire" tanker left the Port of Sillamäe in eastern Estonia carrying a cargo of shale oil, destined for Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the Transport Administration said on Sunday afternoon. It is owned by the Greek company Aegean Shipping.

The vessel had been sailing along an agreed route through Russian waters.

The agency told ERR that such an incident had never occurred before.

Ships traveling to and from Sillamäe will now be directed to stay in Estonian territorial waters, the agency said.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the tanker was detained as it was departing from the port.

"Today's incident shows that Russia continues to act unpredictably, which is why ships will be directed along an alternative route in the future," Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said.

"I have also informed our Allies of the event," the minister added.

Safe navigation route

"Green Admire" departed from the Estonian port at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday (May 17), sailing westwards through Russia's territorial waters.

Shortly after midnight, the Russian authorities stopped the tanker. The vessel then traveled to Russia's Gogland Island, where it is now anchored.

Ships leaving Sillamäe usually move through Russia's territorial waters because it is a safer route for larger vessels than navigating Estonia's shallows.

This safe navigation route does not follow any national borders and has been agreed upon between Russia, Estonia, and Finland.

The Transport Administration's vessel traffic management department monitors ship traffic in Estonian territorial waters.

The incident follows an attempt this week by the Estonian Navy to stop an unflagged tanker, part of Russia's shadow fleet, sailing through Estonian waters. The ship did not stop and Russia sent a fighter jet to escort the tanker, violating Estonia's airspace in the process.

Another shadow fleet tanker, the "Kiwala," was impounded by Estonian authorities for a little over two weeks in April for sailing without a flag.

Minister: Russia's behavior is connected to shadow fleet

Russia has started acting very dangerously in the Baltic Sea, Tsahkna told the evening news show "Aktuaalne kaamera" on Sunday.

"This is definitely connected to the fact that we have started to harass Russia's shadow fleet. I am not just talking about Estonia, but about Finland and other Baltic Sea countries more broadly. Within the European Union, we have now placed over 300 shadow fleet vessels on the sanctions list. We inspect all ships, their documents, and as you can see, we also have the capacity to intervene when necessary," he said.

The minister said the shadow fleet, several hundred tankers in bad condition that Russia uses to avoid sanctions, is very important to Moscow.

"Somewhere between 50 to 60 percent of Russia's oil and all commercial activity flows through the Gulf of Finland via their shadow fleet. Now we're seeing the results, where Russia feels it's become harder to conduct this business," he told the show.

Tsahkna said the incident was unexpected. Estonia, Finland and Russia had all agreed that ships could use the route. He said Moscow "simply wanted to show force."

"This is not a problem for us. Our pilots guide ships out of Sillamäe through Estonian territorial waters, which are somewhat more difficult for large vessels, a bit more dangerous because of the shallows, but we can handle it. We just need to respond calmly, step by step, but we have to understand that Russia is unpredictable and quite dangerous," he said.

MFA not planning to summon Russian chargé d'affaires

Tsahkna described the situation as "very calm" and said there is no need to hold negotiations with Russia.

"The tanker complied [with Russia's request – ed.] There was no use of force, but we are definitely monitoring whether the tanker can proceed," he said.

There is also no point summoning Russia's chargé d'affaires, Moscow's highest diplomat in Estonia, again. The ministry handed over a note on Wednesday after a Russian fighter jet violated Estonia's airspace.

"We have to look at the bigger picture. If we treat each incident in isolation, it might seem like not much is happening. But when we looked at the same fighter jet entering NATO airspace, that was a very serious matter," the minister said.

He said the NATO foreign ministers' meeting was taking place, and NATO paid very close attention to the incursion, which took place as the Estonian Navy attempted to stop a shadow fleet vessel sailing without a flag.

"If we consider the incidents from a month ago, and so on, we have to take a broader view, including intelligence information. That also determines whether we summon anyone or what kind of communication we have with Russia," Tsahkna said.

When asked whether, looking at the bigger picture, there is currently no reason to summon anyone, the foreign minister replied: "Today, no, but tomorrow is a new day."

This story was updated to add a comment from Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, update the map, and information about Russia's activities.

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