Liliana

Iraqi authorities have released the 'Liliana', which was intercepted on July 6 in Iraqi waters of the Arabian Gulf at a side-loading platform of Basra’s oil terminal. The tanker, carrying 93,000 tonnes of fuel oil, failed to present sufficient documentation for the oil at the time of inspection. Iraq’s port authorities had granted the crew 48 hours to provide the required paperwork. A court ordered the vessel’s release, ruling that no violations had been committed. The 'Liliana' has resumed its voyage in the Persian Gulf, en route to Khor Fakkan.

Iraqi naval forces have detained the 'Liliana', which was suspected of smuggling fuel oil, intensifying the state's efforts to combat illegal petroleum trade in Gulf waters. The tanker was intercepted 26 nautical miles off Iraq's coast near Basra's oil terminal, carrying a cargo of 93,000 metric tons of fuel oil, which was believed to be of Iraqi origin.Armed Iraqi personnel boarded the tanker, questioned crew members, and inspectied their passports. The operation followed intelligence on smuggling activities. The tanker's documents were reviewed by the judiciary, and the vessel was to be towed to port pending a court decision. On Aug 15 it dropped anchor off Khor Fakkan in pos. 25° 22' N 056° 25' E.

Three ships were attacked by pirates in the Singapore Strait on Dec 20, 2019. At 05.32 a.m. the 'Jian Fa',was in the Singapore Strait bound for China, was boarded by an unknown number of perpetrators. At a7 a.m. the ship informed Singapore VTIS that a search on board the ship was conducted and there was no sighting of the perpetrators. Nothing was stolen. All crew were safe and the ship resumed her voyage. At 11.25 p.m. the 'Jag Lalit', underway in the Singapore Strait bound for Kaoshiung, was boarded by six perpetrators armed with knives. The 4th Engineer was punched in the face. The chief engineer sustained bruises on the neck and had a gold chain stolen from him. Upon the ship's arrival in Singapore, the Singapore Police Coast Guard boarded the ships for investigation and verified that all crew are safe. At 11.38 p.m. the 'Akij Globe' was underway in the Singapore Strait when five armed perpetrators were sighted in the engine room. The alarm was raised and upon hearing the alarm, the perpetrators confronted three crew members in the engine room. The perpetrators escaped with stolen engine and generator spares in a boat. The Singapore Police Coast Guard boarded the ship upon arrival at Singapore anchorage. All crew members were safe.

India's shipping ministry has told private company Great Eastern Shipping Co (Gesco) to supply tankers to import Iranian oil for state-run refiner MRPL, which had to slash imports from Iran in July because the shipper was unwilling to carry them. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL), Iran's biggest Indian client, has an annual contract with Gesco through Transchart, an agency of the federal shipping ministry. But Gesco refused last month to lift cargoes for MRPL because of the lack of insurance cover after European sanctions came into effect barring insurance and reinsurance for Iranian shipments. An industry official, with access to a letter sent by the shipping ministry to Gesco on Monday, said it made clear India had now allowed state-run insurers to provide some cover for Iranian shipments and told the company to provide vessels for MRPL. http://www.iranfocus.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25720:india-instructs-private-firm-gesco-to-ship-iranian-oil&catid=4:iran-general&Itemid=26