By Talaia Mika, Cook Islands News
a photo taken on December 28, 2024 off Porkkalanniemi, Kirkkonummi, in the Gulf of Finland, shows oil tanker Eagle S (R), which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands, next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko (back C) and tugboat Ukko (front L). Photo: AFP / Jussi Nukari
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) and Maritime Cook Islands (MCI) have defended and clarified that the vessel MT Eagle S, which has been at the centre of international scrutiny following an undersea cable incident in the Gulf of Finland, is not, and has never been, under sanctions.
In a joint response to Cook Islands News, the Ministry and MCI confirmed that contrary to some public assumptions, the vessel remains compliant with international regulations.
"The Eagle S vessel is not sanctioned, nor has it ever been," the statement said. "In fact, whilst the vessel was detained in Finland, the Finnish authorities investigated whether the vessel was in breach of the sanctions imposed by the G7, EU and Australia on the trade in Russian petroleum products and concluded that Eagle S was not."
Eagle S was released by Finnish authorities with its full cargo onboard. According to a Finnish press release, cooperation with Cook Islands representatives was acknowledged positively.
"Our cooperation has been very good. The Cook Islands representatives and the authorities have exchanged information, and we have established a shared situational picture. While on board the ship, the representatives went through the deficiencies observed in the port state control inspection with Traficom inspectors," said Sanna Sonninen, Maritime Director at Traficom.
The Cook Islands-flagged vessel MT Eagle S has been the subject of news due to an incident in the Gulf of Finland where damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable was reported.
The vessel was boarded and inspected by Finnish authorities, who found it missing its port-side anchor and initiated an investigation.
Concerns have also been raised about the vessel potentially being part of a "shadow fleet" linked to Russia's sanctions evasion efforts.
The preliminary report into the incident is currently being reviewed by MoT, MCI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI). "Once this review is complete, a statement will be made," the agencies stated.
The authorities also emphasised that there are no sanctioned vessels on the Cook Islands Ship Register.
"Any vessel registered that appears on any of the following sanctions lists is immediately deleted: OFAC (USA), UK, EU," the joint response said.
New Zealand, they noted, does not have a sanctions list.
MCI also employs a full-time staff member solely responsible for monitoring the movements of Cook Islands-flagged tanker vessels.
"For those vessels that trade in Russian petroleum products, MCI ensures that they are in compliance with the conditions imposed and agreed by the G7, the EU and Australia when engaged in that trade."
The agency operates a Sanctions Monitoring Program, which is publicly available via the MCI website.
As a responsible member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the Cook Islands Maritime Administration-which includes MoT, MCI, and other agencies such as the CI Ports Authority-is preparing for its upcoming IMO audit.
"The IMO audits all member states every five years to determine whether their Maritime Administration is giving full and complete effect to IMO mandatory instruments - through an IMSAS audit," the statement said.
To prepare for this, Maritime New Zealand, through the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme (PMSP), has already carried out a mock audit of the Cook Islands Maritime Safety Authority. The audit, conducted by senior Maritime New Zealand officials, was welcomed by MCI.
"MCI has welcomed this assistance from PMSP and the opportunity to review the Ministry's oversight and management of MCI to ensure that MCI is fulfilling its responsibilities," the joint response added.
