Cairo: Libyan authorities said yesterday they intercepted the North Korean-flagged tanker, Morning Glory, which had loaded crude from Sidra, a rebel-held eastern port. Doubts over the actual ownership of the ship have also emerged.
"Naval and revolutionary forces are in control of the tanker Morning Glory and are escorting it to a state-controlled port," the country's top legislative and executive body, the General National Congress, said on its website.
The tanker was the first to dock and try and take on oil since the port was taken over by rebels last August.
The P&I club Skuld has reiterated its warning to members to proceed with caution when considering calling at ports in Eastern Libya.
Members should seek detailed updates from shipping agents, and as may be necessary from the club's correspondents, before proceeding, Skuld said.
North Korean specialists at site NKNews, who track every North Korean ship afloat, have questioned whether the ship is actually North Korean. NKNews notes that the ship is registered to a UAE firm, Horizon Energy, and only recently reflagged from Liberia to North Korea. Moreover, NKNews questions the veracity of reports claiming the ship is North Korean based on its size. At some 36,000 dwt the Morning Glory is 10,000 dwt larger than the next largest North Korean ship, the Hyok Sin 2. [11/03/14]
