The deficiencies identified on the tanker Kiwala, detained by the Estonian Navy on April 11, have been rectified, and the ship is free to leave Estonia, said Kristjan Truu, Director of the Maritime Administration of the Transport Board, on Saturday.
Kristjan Truu said: „Technically, the ship is in order and it can depart.“ The ship is currently in Muuga Bay. The final preparations are being made there, and then the ship can leave.
A few weeks ago, an inspection was conducted on the tanker. Forty deficiencies were found. As a result, the ship could not proceed. It was detained until the deficiencies were rectified.
Of the 40 deficiencies, 29 were significant. These were the reasons why the ship was detained. 23 deficiencies were related to documentation. The remaining issues concerned maritime safety, crew training, and technical deficiencies.
Kiwala entered the Gulf of Finland on April 10. The ship did not have the proper certificate. The ship claimed to be a Djibouti vessel. However, Djibouti revoked its flag because the ship engaged in wrongful activities.
The ship also lacked insurance. The European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland had imposed sanctions on the ship because it had previously engaged in wrongful activities.