Hero2

An Iranian tanker has discharged 270,000 mt of fuel oil into a floating storage unit at Malaysia's Tanjung Pelepas port this week, barely two weeks after another Iranian ship unloaded crude into an FSU near Labuan Island, off East Malaysia's Sabah state, industry sources said Wednesday. A shipping source with knowledge of the matter said, the Pioneer, a 2007-built VLCC owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company and previously known as Hadi, had discharged Monday (Sept. 17, 2012) nearly 270,000 mt of fuel oil into the Hercules, a VLCC converted into a floating storage unit, off Malaysia's southern state of Johor. After unloading the cargo of 380 CST and 280 CST grades of fuel oil, the Pioneer left for Iran, said another source with knowledge of the matter.

Iranian VLCC Hadi loaded with crude oil was attacked by Somali pirates at 1439 UTC Nov 25 2010, in 19 47N 062 59E, central part of Arabian sea. Vessel was fired upon from AK’s and RPG, but managed to evade pirates and escape. Vessel’s voyage given as Kharg Isl, Iran - Ain Sukhna Terminal, Egypt, in this respect position of attack seems to be strange – why tanker wandered deep in Indian ocean, such route not suiting either claimed voyage or safety, as those waters are now most dangerous. Hadi is one of re-flagged vessels of National Iranian Tanker Co, so maybe strange route has to do something with sanctions?