News

A Rotterdam judge has lifted the seizure of the 'Esra C' through summary proceedings in Rotterdam. The seizure was imposed in Amsterdam by a fuel supplier. According to the judge, the measure proved untenable in a tangle of international laws and regulations.

Estonia has accused Russia of creating a serious threat to the NATO after a Russian fighter jet disrupted operations by the Estonian Navy to inspect the unflagged 'Jaguar', which is believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet that Moscow is using to avoid international sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine. The vessel refused to cooperate when asked to stop on May 15. Russia sent a fighter jet to check the situation, which violated NATO territory for close to one minute. Russia has not commented on the incident.

On May18, 2025, the SAR helicopter Helimer 222 medevaced a sick passenger from the 'GNV Cristal', en route from Sète to Tanger Med, about 43 nautical miles from Dragonera. The patient was hoisted from the ship and taken to the hospital Son Espases for further treatment on a higher medical level.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Thai crew members of the 'Chayanee Naree' for trafficking 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria from Brazil through the Apapa seaport. The convicted sailors are Krilerk Tanakhan, Boonlert Hansoongnern, Jakkarin Booncharoen, Thammarong Put-tlek, Worrapat Paopinta, Marut Kantaprom, Werapat Somboonying, Urkit Amsri, Panudet Jaisuk, and Amrat Thawom. They were arrested alongside nine Nigerian suspects on Oct 13, 2021 and arraigned in February 2022 on charges bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful importation of narcotic. On May 15, 2025, the trial judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, delivered the judgment following a plea bargain agreement entered into by the convicted crew members with the NDLEA. Justice Osiagor convicted the vessel under Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act and imposed a fine of $4 million or its Naira equivalent for its role in smuggling the illicit drug into Nigeria. The convicted sailors opted for a plea bargain agreement with the NDLEA and as a result, Justice Osiagor delivered his ruling at the resumed hearing of the matter. Among other penalties, the judge convicted the 'Chayanee Naree' for unlawful transportation of 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria and ordered to pay a fine of $4 million or its Naira equivalent. The 2nd – 11th defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act for permitting the use of the vessel for the unlawful transportation of 32.9kg of cocaine, while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants were ordered to pay N100,000.00 each as punishment for the offence and in addition restitution in the sum of $50,000 each or its equivalent in Naira to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The 5th – 11th defendants are to pay N100,000.00 each and restitution in the sum of $30,000.00, bringing the total amount payable to $4,360,000.00. Justice Osiagor adjourned the trial of the nine Nigerian suspects to June 25.

Russia has detained the 'Green Admire' on May 18, 2025, after it left Sillamae port on May 17 at 6.40 pü.m. GMT, using a designated navigation channel that crosses Russian territorial waters. The navigation channel out of Sillamae through Russian territorial waters has been set up under an agreement between Estonia, Finland and Russia to avoid shallows in the Estonian waters. The Estonian foreign Minister Margus Tsahknaalerted NATO allies to the incident, as the incident showed that Russia continues to behave unpredictably. After the detention, the AIS signal showed obvious signs of spoofing, as is common in this region: On the afternoon of May 18 the tanker was anchored near Russia’s Hogland island in pos. 60° 02' N 027° 03' E. The ship was bound for Rotterdam with a load of Estonia’s shale oil. Vessels sailing into and out of the port of Sillamae will now be guided through Estonian territorial waters.