The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wopke Hoekstra, explained that the ship “Sunny Liger” was denied access to Sweden and that led its captain to detour to the port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe, the public television station NOS reported on Friday. Hoekstra stressed that the ship, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag is not subject to European sanctions against Russia, and the Netherlands would not have a legal basis to refuse access to the ship when it tries to dock.

Dutch deputy Pieter Omtzigt was the one who asked the government the reasons why the ship will be allowed to dock despite the sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

According to the public broadcaster, the ship is scheduled to arrive in Rotterdam around 18.00 local time this Friday.

Meanwhile the government is trying to locate the recipient of the Russian oil cargo.

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