Finnish Customs has confirmed that the cargo of the detained vessel Fitburg includes Russian-origin structural steel in breach of European Union sanctions.
The ship remains anchored at Kantvik port in Kirkkonummi following its seizure by Finnish authorities on 1 January. It is under investigation for suspected involvement in the damaging of a submarine data cable between Helsinki and Tallinn.
The structural steel was identified during a detailed inspection conducted by Finnish Customs on the day of the seizure.
Preliminary assessments had already flagged the cargo as likely subject to EU sectoral sanctions. These sanctions prohibit the import of specific steel products from Russia into the EU.
Customs stated that the steel is still impounded and an initial investigation has begun into a possible sanctions violation. “The goods were detained immediately upon boarding,” Finnish Customs said. The inspection included structural checks of the ship’s holds and deck.
The ship had departed Saint Petersburg and was reportedly heading to Haifa, Israel. It flies the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The 132-metre cargo vessel is operated by a Turkish shipping company and crewed by nationals from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Officials have not disclosed whether the ship’s operator or ownership structure links it to any sanctioned entities. Fitburg is not currently listed on official EU sanctions databases. However, the ship has been flagged as a vessel of interest by Open Sanctions, which monitors global shipping networks for potential evasions.
Despite this classification, Finnish Customs has confirmed that neither Fitburg nor its unique IMO number appears on official EU or UN sanctions lists. The ship’s cargo alone triggered the regulatory action, based on a review of its origin and product classification.
The structural steel found onboard was defined by Customs experts as construction-grade material included in the scope of EU restrictions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions cover a wide range of metals, including semi-finished and finished steel products, with strict bans on entry into EU ports.
The inspection was conducted on the evening of 1 January. Customs officers notified the ship’s captain of the cargo detention before the inspection began. The operation lasted more than four hours. It included physical verification of goods, checking compartments and structural cavities, and reviewing shipping documents.
The Russian Embassy in Helsinki has requested further details and stated that it is ready to assist its nationals onboard. According to state media outlet Ria Novosti, Russian diplomats said they had contacted Finnish authorities and were prepared to offer consular support “within the scope of embassy authority”.
HT
