Authorities in southern Italy detained a bulk carrier after uncovering evidence that it loaded Russian-origin iron cargo following concealed port calls in the Black Sea.
The Tuvalu-flagged vessel Hizir Reis was stopped on January 17 upon arrival in Brindisi, where it was found to be carrying around 33,000 tonnes of iron. Investigators say the ship’s documentation failed to disclose a call at Novorossiysk, a port subject to EU restrictions.
According to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, a forensic examination of the vessel’s electronic navigation data showed that the ship had operated in Novorossiysk between November 13 and 16, 2025, when the cargo was loaded. Authorities also determined that the vessel’s AIS transponder had been deliberately switched off near Novorossiysk, a tactic often used to evade tracking and regulatory checks.
Independent commercial tracking data from MarineTraffic supported the findings, indicating Novorossiysk as the vessel’s last port of call despite declarations to the contrary.
The detention forms part of broader EU efforts to enforce sanctions targeting restricted Russian ports and the import of certain goods, including ferrous materials. Italian prosecutors have launched investigations into the importer, the ship’s owner, and several crew members on suspicion of sanctions violations, while underlining that all parties are presumed innocent at this stage.
