Germany is urgently working to secure a heavily loaded tanker, the Eventin, that has become stranded off its northern coast.

The vessel, which is part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” circumventing sanctions, was transporting nearly 100,000 tonnes of oil from Russia to Egypt when its engine failed.

As the tanker drifted dangerously close to shore, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned Russia’s use of “dilapidated oil tankers” to evade sanctions, calling it a threat to European security.

Three tugboats have been dispatched to tow the Eventin away from the coast to a safer area with more open water.

Authorities reported no oil leaks from the vessel, which had come within 14 kilometers of the coast. The operation to pull the tanker to safety is expected to take approximately eight hours.

The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies is overseeing the operation amid rough seas and rising winds.

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The Eventin, while registered under the Panamanian flag, has been linked to Russia’s efforts to bypass sanctions imposed by Western nations following its invasion of Ukraine.

Since the onset of the conflict, the number of vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet has surged, prompting Western countries to impose sanctions on numerous ships involved in transporting Russian oil.