German authorities told Newsweek that a towing connection to the ship had been established, and that the 24-strong crew was safe.

An oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's efforts to evade sanctions went adrift and had to be towed by a German tugboat Friday in what Germany's foreign minister called a danger to security and tourism in the Baltic Sea.

Germany charged that a heavily loaded tanker adrift off its northern coast Friday was part of the "shadow fleet" Moscow uses to avoid sanctions on its oil exports.