Germany detains ship suspected of carrying goods from Russia

A ship has reportedly been detained at Rostock Port in Germany for purportedly transporting cargo from Russia in violation of EU sanctions, as confirmed by both the port authority and local customs to RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

The local media outlet, Ostsee-Zeitung reported on Monday that a Marshal Islands-flagged vessel was detained in Germany on suspicion of transporting wood and enriched uranium from Russia for US nuclear power plants. 

“The ship received a detention order from the customs due to the presence of goods under EU sanctions on board. Therefore, leaving the port is prohibited [for the ship],” the port authority said.

On March 4, the vessel heading from Russia’s St. Petersburg stopped in Germany’s Rostock Port to repair a propeller, which was allegedly damaged by ice, the authority added.

The customs officials in Stralsund, Germany, verified to RIA Novosti that the ship had indeed been held, emphasizing that “both the vessel and its cargo, like any items entering the EU, undergo customs scrutiny.” They further mentioned that an inquiry is currently in progress.

Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation, later clarified that the detention of the vessel was unrelated to enriched uranium.

“We are aware of the ongoing investigation into the ship detained in the port of Rostock, but this incident is not related to Rosatom’s cargo — enriched uranium products,” the company said in a statement.

It added that any further comments on the situation were premature.