A previous Port State Control inspection had uncovered a massive number of safety shortcomings on the Eagle S tanker, which is suspected of damaging undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland.
Port state control (PSC) is an international oversight regime in which participating countries inspect foreign ships calling in their ports.
On Thursday, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom began its PSC inspection of the vessel anchored in Porvoo to verify the ship’s compliance with the requirements of applicable international conventions.
The previous inspection, which revealed these safety flaws, took place in the fall of 2023 at the Port of Tema in Ghana, two months after the tanker was acquired by Caravella LLC-FZ, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
Authorities had then identified as many as 24 discrepancies on the Eagle S, leading to its detention, according to the Equasis maritime safety database.
When a vessel is detained, authorities prohibit it from leaving port until serious safety flaws have been rectified.
Emissions and safety issues
Inspectors had identified four critical issues on the vessel, related to the maintenance of the ship and its equipment, the emergency fire pump, fire alarm system, and emergency power supply.
It is not clear from the report how long the Eagle S had to spend in port before it was allowed to continue its journey.
Other issues with the Eagle S are related to safety, emissions, and documentation. The report found three separate shortcomings in the ship's oil logbook, which must record events related to the quantity and handling of oil on board.
The Eagle S had also neglected international agreements on emissions reduction. Shortcomings were found, for instance, in the oil filters and the ship’s waste management practices.
In addition, the ship was in disarray, with malfunctioning signal lights and sound signals, and inadequate safety and fire plans.
Poor leadership and morale
Maritime expert Markku Mylly, who had reviewed the details of the Eagle S's inspection in Ghana, says that he has never seen such a large number of deficiencies in a single inspection. Typically, they range from two to five.
"When we're talking about more than 20, that's truly a lot. There are many rusty old ships sailing around, but I don't remember seeing these many issues raised," he said.
Mylly, who has previously served as the director general of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the Finnish Maritime Administration, believe that the officers and the crew have neglected many issues on the ship.
According to Mylly, the serious deficiencies on the Eagle S indicate an indifferent shipping company that has not provided adequate instructions to the crew.
"The general untidiness, which is reflected everywhere, is a sign that the ship is not being properly maintained. There is poor leadership and morale on board," he said.
Traficom's detailed inspection
The inspection conducted in Ghana was a routine check to ensure that the ship's documentation and overall condition were in compliance.
According to Traficom, a detailed inspection of the Eagle S will be carried out due to the ship's risk classification. The inspection will include equipment tests and safety drills. At the same time, Traficom will verify whether Eagle S has addressed the deficiencies noted during the previous port state inspection.
In December, the Eagle S departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga when Finnish authorities stopped the vessel in the Gulf of Finland. It is not known whether a port state inspection was conducted on the Eagle S in Russia.
According to Mylly, Russia is also part of the international Port State Control System but no longer respects its principles, as it does not inspect poorly maintained vessels.
“It’s quite strange that now all ships from Russia are allowed to pass,” Mylly said.
The inspection of the vessel in Ghana was previously reported by the Lloyd’s List.
According to the British publication, the Eagle S is part of Russia's oil-carrying "dark fleet," also known as the "shadow fleet." These vessels are typically over 15 years old and are often involved in deceptive maritime practices.
Correction 4 January: An earlier version of this article referred to the Russian port Ust-Luga by the Finnish name Laukaansuu.