Belgian and French authorities seized the Russian shadow fleet tanker Ethera, sailing under a Guinean flag, between 6:15:59 AM and 9:15:59 AM UTC on March 1, 2026. The vessel is now headed to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced this morning. The seizure targets Russia's shadow fleet, used to circumvent Western sanctions on oil exports. Francken's announcement, reported by NOELreports on X, confirms the joint operation by Belgium and France, with the tanker en route to Zeebrugge for further action. No additional details on the tanker's cargo, crew, or precise seizure location were provided in the announcement made within the three-hour reporting window.
