Minerva Marine Denies Arrest of Its Ras Lanuf-Bound Tanker

Greece-based tanker operator Minerva Marine denied media reports that its 2000-built tanker Minerva Alexandra had been arrested in Libya’s Ras Lanuf.

The Greece-flagged crude oil tanker Minerva Alexandra together with Panama-flagged oil tanker Trident Hope were bound for Ras Lanuf port, home to Libya’s major oil export terminal, as last reported by World Maritime News.

The tankers, owned by Minerva Marine and New Shipping Ltd respectively, were expected to arrive at the port on July 9th to collect oil cargo following the lifting of force majeure at Ras Lanuf oil terminal on July 2nd.

However, the Petroleum Facilities Guard, the Libyan Army unit tasked with the protection of Libya’s oil facilities, said that all tankers bound for Ras Lanuf were facing arrest as the ban was still in place.

Certain local media reported that both tankers were arrested by the Libyan army forces following their arrival to the port, nevertheless a spokesperson for Minerva Marine told World Maritime News that the claims were not true.

“Minerva Alexandra has not called Ras Lanuf as it was incorrectly stated in media reports and has never been arrested by any authority,” Minerva Marine said in an emailed statement.

“As of the 8th of July 2015 the vessel is adrift about 200 miles of the coast of Libya, waiting orders for her next voyage,” the statement reads.

According to the latest vessel tracking data from Marine Traffic, the ship is stopped in the Mediterranean area, around 200 miles of Ras Lanuf.

World Maritime News Staff