Blacklisted Indian-Flagged Tanker Returning to Libya

The Indian-flagged tanker that was blacklisted by the UN Security Council for carrying ‘illicit’ oil cargo from Libya’s rival government is heading back to Libya after being denied port entrance to Malta, the ship’s AIS data from Marine Traffic show.

The Distya Ameya tanker is expected to reach Al Zawiya on Saturday, April 30th.

This was the first attempt of Libya’s eastern government to export oil from the country, which was prevented by Tripoli, the internationally-recognized seller of Libya’s crude oil.

However, Nagi al-Maghrabi, chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) set up by Libya’s rival eastern government is quoted by Reuters as saying that the company would continue to fight for the right of the eastern NOC to export crude, dubbing the current situation as a legal wrangle.

In addition, India has allegedly told the vessel’s operator not to discharge the cargo anywhere, forcing the ship to return to Libya.

The tanker is reported to have loaded 650,000 barrels of crude oil shipped by the country’s eastern government for UAE-based DSA Consultancy FZC, and had left Marsa el-Hariga port late on Monday.

Libya’s Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation (NOC) tried to prevent the ship from loading at Tobruk’s Hariga terminal, claiming the export cargo was illicit, however the parallel Beida government managed to load the ship.

As informed by the UN Security Council, the designation for the 95,420 DWT vessel is valid from 27 April to 26 July 2016, unless terminated earlier by the committee.

World Maritime News Staff