Elektrans’ aframax tanker Distya Ameya has been removed from the UN Security Council’s sanction list, thanks to support from its flag state.
On April 27, the India-flagged tanker was found to be carrying crude illegally exported from eastern Libya, having loaded 650,000 bbl of oil at Marsa el-Hariga port on April 25.
“Achieving denotification of the vessel in merely 16 days is an unparalleled achievement which was made possible with the timely support and intervention from Indian Flag, particularly the director-general of shipping, Shri Deepak Shetty, officials at Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian permanent representative to the United Nations and the Indian Ambassador to Libya,” Elektrans said today in a statement.
Libya’s ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim Dabbashi went on record, stating the “tanker operators had no intention of getting involved in an improper transaction and had lacked proper information”, which led to the government withdrawing its complaint against the vessel, the shipping company said.
Remaining on the blacklist would have prevented the vessel from entering ports worldwide until July 26.
Elektrans and the vessel’s owner Arya Ship Charterers both maintain they had no knowledge of their being any legal issue with the cargo during loading.
After loading the illicit cargo, the vessel was instructed to return to Libya and offload it again.
