Iran: Adrian Darya 1 Unloaded Cargo on Mediterranean Coast

The Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1 has offloaded its cargo of 2.1 million barrels of oil, according to Iran’s officials.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi as saying that the vessel reached its destination on the Mediterranean coast where it offloaded the cargo, without providing details on the ship’s exact port of call.

The 300,579-dwt VLCC offloaded the cargo amid accusations that it was carrying the oil to Syria, in violation of European Union sanctions.

Iran earlier said that the cargo was sold and that the purchased would decide its destination.

The ship previously went “dark” in the Mediterranean Sea, less than 50 nautical miles off Tartus, after it sent its last signal at 15:53 GMT on September 2.

Formerly known as Grace 1, the tanker was detained in Gibraltar on July 4 on suspicion that it was sailing to Baniyas Oil Refinery in Syria. It was released on August 15, only days after Gibraltar received written assurance from the Republic of Iran that the ship’s destination would not be an entity that is subject to the sanctions.

Later that month, the United States blacklisted the oil tanker, as well as its captain, Akhilesh Kumar. The ship was identified as “blocked property” pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorism or acts of terrorism, the U.S. said, adding that “anyone providing support to the Adrian Darya 1 risks being sanctioned.”

World Maritime News Staff