Germany said it has replaced the crew on an oil tanker that authorities seized this month and took control of the ship, including its cargo.

The Panama-flagged Eventin was carrying barrels from the Russian port of Ust-Luga when it suffered a power failure back in January and was towed to near the German coast. It has remained near German waters since then, vessel tracking shows.

“As a result of the confiscation, the federal government has acquired ownership of the ship and the cargo and, as a result of the crew change, has now also taken actual control of the ship and the cargo,” a spokesperson for the German finance ministry said on March 28 in a statement. “I can therefore confirm that the ship and cargo were seized by customs and subsequently confiscated.”

The spokesperson didn’t comment further on what the options are for the ship and the cargo, citing “ongoing customs measures.” German magazine Spiegel reported last week that the Eventin carried 100,000 tons of oil. 

The seizure could mark the first time that a European Union nation took such a step since the invasion of Ukraine. Germany and other EU states have imposed trade sanctions against Russian oil tankers and other entities since the war began over three years ago.

“The German government is consistently committed to ensuring that Russia’s rusty tankers cannot be used to finance the war of aggression,” the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier in March. Apart from financing the war against Ukraine, it cited environmental risks stemming from the vessels.

The company listed as Eventin’s manager on the Equasis international marine database didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment. That’s the only means listed for reaching the firm.