Tankers went to the Estonian port bypassing Russian waters: ships go through the shallows

After the detention of the Green Admire tanker in Russian waters, the vessels go to the easternmost port of Estonia bypassing. They have to choose the most dangerous route — through the shallows.

The Seaways Sabine tanker has arrived at the Estonian port of Sillamae. On the morning of June 2, he stood at the pier.

Seaways Sabine became the first tanker to arrive at the easternmost Estonian port of Sillamae after the detention of Green Admiral. According to AIS vessels, the tanker chose a route bypassing Russian territorial waters. The 274-meter vessel passed along the maritime border, choosing the most dangerous route — through the shallows.

Seaways Sabine is owned by American Diamond S Management and operated by Hong Kong-based Anglo-Eastern, which is one of the largest ship operators in the world.

The tankers are exporting Estonian shale oil from Sillamae, and Tallinn stated that after the detention of the Green Admire tanker, the vessels will enter the port and leave, bypassing the territorial waters of Russia.

"Our pilots will now take vessels out of Sillamae through the territorial waters of Estonia. Yes, for large vessels it is a little more difficult and dangerous because of the shoals, but we will cope," Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkna said in an interview with the "Actual Camera".

On May 18, Russia detained the Green Admire tanker, which was transporting shale oil to Rotterdam and entering the main transport route in the Gulf of Finland, traditionally through Russian territorial waters.

On the evening of May 19, the Green Admire tanker was released from Russia, and in The Estonian Navy said that the ship itself created the reason for the detention.

"The Russians warned the tanker several times about entering the danger zone and ordered it to change course. It is unclear whether the reason for the incident was the language barrier, the unwillingness of the tanker to take a longer route, or the fact that the warnings of the Russian authorities simply were not heeded. It is known that at the time of shipment the vessel was in technically sound condition," wrote ERR with reference to the Estonian Navy.

Estonian politicians, on the other hand, believed that the detention of the tanker was Russia's response to Estonia's own attempts to seize ships to transport oil from Russia.