Aqua-Spirit

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated nine Iranian-linked tankers, thus limiting their global operations and heightening enforcement risk for associated entities. The sanctioned vessels, the 'Cesaria' (IMO: 9251602), 'Longevity 7' (IMO: 9240885), 'Sea Bird' (IMO: 9088536), 'Avon' (IMO: 9034705), 'Al Diab II' (IMO: 9053816), 'Aqua Spirit', 'Eastern Hero' (IMO: 9353905), 'Chiron 5' (IMO: 9306665), and 'Keel' (IMO 9176929) have carried crude oil, LPG, condensate, HSFO and naphtha across East and South Asia. Their activity included deliveries to Pakistan, East Asia, the UAE, and Somalia, often using ship-to-ship transfer methods. The move intensified Washington’s efforts to disrupt Iran’s shadow fleet and limit its access to revenue.

The "Happy Bird" was allowed to resume its voyage on Mar 9 around 8 p.m. to Mohammedia, ETA Mar 15. Because the master knew about the technical malfunction of the main engine which caused the soot pollution and transited the Kiel Canal in spite of that, an investigation was launched against him, and he had to pay a safety deposit of 528 Euro. A blower had been malfunctioning. As a repair was impossible in Brunsbüttel, the ship was only allowed to pass the locks of the Kiel Canal without engine pulled by two tugs. Once they had reached the Elbe, the tanker was allowed to start the main engine and proceeded towards the Northsea. German report with photo: http://www.kn-online.de/Schleswig-Holstein/Aus-dem-Land/Tanker-Happy-Bird-Rauchwolken-hatten-ein-Nachspiel

Enroute from Portsmouth to Mohammedia, Maroc, the "Happy Bird" stopped during the transit of the Kiel Canal at Schwartenbek near Kiel on Mar 8, 2015, and large amounts of exhaust escaped, causing a visibility next to zero in the surroundings. The ship undertook some manoevers before proceeding further to Brunsbüttel. The police was alerted and stopped the ship at the South Quay in Brunsbüttel at 8.30 p.m. for investigations which should take place in the foremidday of Mar 9 and lead to a decision whether a repair was needed. German reports with photo: http://www.kn-online.de/Lokales/Kiel/Kiel-Rauchwolken-truebten-den-Blick-Happy-Bird-stiess-Russ-aus http://www.kn-online.de/Schleswig-Holstein/Aus-dem-Land/Dunkle-Rauchwolken-ueber-Kieler-Foerde-Tanker-Happy-Bird-wird-untersucht

The "Happy Bird" was fired upon by pirates in two skiffs on Jan 12, 2012, near position 14:51N – 056:03E, approximately 170 nm southeast of Salalah, Oman. An onboard security team returned the fire, prompting the skiffs to break off their attack and depart the area.