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Italian authorities have detained a handysize bulk carrier in the port of Brindisi on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions against Russia, following irregularities linked to a cargo of approximately 33,000 tonnes of ferrous metals.
The detention was carried out by the Guardia di Finanza, working alongside customs officials, after inspectors identified what they described as serious inconsistencies and alleged falsifications in the vessel’s documentation during routine checks.
The vessel has been identified as the Tuvalu-flagged bulk carrier Hizir Reis, a 27-year-old ship listed in Equasis as operated by Turkish shipping company Emiroglu Deniz Nakliyati. The vessel previously sailed under the name Isolda until October 2024, when it was owned by Poland’s Polsteam.
In a statement, the Guardia di Finanza said the ship was seized after inspectors uncovered discrepancies related to the vessel’s trading history and cargo operations.
“Subsequent checks revealed serious inconsistencies, falsifications and alterations to the onboard documentation relating to the locations of stops and loading operations,” the authority said.
According to AIS tracking data from ShipAtlas, the Hizir Reis’s most recent port call was Novorossiysk, a major Russian port on the Black Sea, before proceeding to Italy. Authorities did not immediately clarify whether the cargo itself originated in Russia, but said the documentation raised sufficient concerns to justify detention under EU sanctions enforcement rules.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Italian authorities have not yet announced whether criminal charges or further enforcement actions will follow.
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