German authorities detained the cargo ship Scanlark in the Kiel Canal on September 7 on suspicion it had been used to launch a drone for intelligence gathering over German military assets.
The 75-meter, 2,000 dwt vessel was stopped at the Kiel-Holtenau lock, where armed police units boarded and divers inspected the hull. Public webcams were switched off and canal access was restricted during the operation. The crew, reported to be Russian nationals, were not allowed to disembark.
Investigators said they suspect a drone was launched from the ship on August 26 to reconnoiter a German Navy vessel. German media reported that evidence found on board supported the allegations, though officials have not confirmed details.
The Scanlark is registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and operated by Estonia’s Vista Shipping Agency, which dismissed the accusations as “nonsense.” The vessel had departed Rotterdam with Finland listed as its next port before being intercepted.
German authorities said the search was part of an investigation into spying, sabotage, and threats to maritime infrastructure. Officials pointed to rising drone activity near military and energy sites, with 536 suspicious flights recorded in Germany in the first quarter of 2025.
Security analysts have warned that Russia could be using commercial ships from its “shadow fleet” to conduct reconnaissance in the Baltic and North Seas, though monitoring all vessels in the region is considered nearly impossible.
Photo: Frank Behling
