Trident-Hope

Reports that two Greek oil tankers, the Alexandra Minerva and Trident Hope, have been seized at Ras Lanuf and their crews detained have been denied by their owners. “It’s rubbish,” a spokesman for Athens-based Minerva Marine, which owns the Minerva Alexandra, told the Libya Herald. “She never called there.” A spokesman for the owners of Trident Marine, New Shipping, also headquarter in Athens, said the same. “It’s not true. The tanker never went there.” Both tankers had been heading to Ras Lanuf following the lifting of force majeure on 2 July by the National Oil Corporation in Tripoli and, according MartineTraffic, were due to arrive in Ras Lanuf yesterday. They turned round and sailed north when it was announced that the local Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) did not accept the Tripoli NOC’s declaration and that the terminal was still closed. The Minerva Alexandra remains “not only outside Libya’s territorial waters but outside outside it exclusive economic zone and is awaiting instructions,” the Minerva Marine spokesman said. “When we have assurances that the port is safe, she will go there. We simply will not take the risk going somewhere that is not allowed.” The Trident Marine was also outside Libya’s water, its owners said. http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/shipping-companies-deny-tanker-seizures-reports/