AfricaTankers

Intertanko questions Nigerian tanker ban

London: The global tanker association, Intertanko, has demanded the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC) overturn a ban that has hit 113 tankers.

The ban was handed down on July 15 as a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari, in what traders said could be part of efforts to crack down on illegal crude oil trading.

In a letter to Gbenga O. Komolafe, group general manager, crude oil marketing division of NNPC, Intertanko general counsel Michael White wrote, “Intertanko protests in the strongest possible way that these bans should be lifted with immediate effect until grounds and evidence for the ban have been given to each vessel and vessel owner/operator, and the owner/operator has had an opportunity to respond.”

White questioned why these particular ships had been banned, with many on the list having never even traded to the West African nation before.

“[O]wners/operators find it difficult to understand what policies/requirements they have infringed,” White wrote.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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