In the Baltic Sea, Greenpeace activists, along with politicians from Germany, Denmark and Sweden, and journalists, set off on inflatable boats from the German island of Fermanagh to meet the Kira K tanker to boycott the vessel.
The vessel, which was carrying Russian oil, was heading through Germany’s exclusive economic zone under the Panamanian flag after leaving the port of Ust-Luga. The vessel was likely headed for ports in Egypt. She noted that the tanker is already under sanctions from a number of countries.
The protesters swam up to the tanker in boats and unfurled banners. They planned to block the tanker’s movement
While documenting the vessel’s movement to the area of the protest, according to activist Natalia Gozak, a Russian warship approached with its transponder turned off. The German coast guard later handed the protesters a message demanding, as the Russian military had said, “move away from the tanker.”
The activists said they had witnessed Russia using its navy to protect the shadow fleet’s tankers. They said the Baltic states should be more proactive in inspecting such vessels to limit Russia’s oil export revenues and reduce the risk of environmental disasters from potential oil spills.
