The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that during July, there were three new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port, whereas four foreign flagged ships remained under detention in UK ports after failing port state control (PSC) inspection.
During an inspection by the Marine Safety Detachment Port Canaveral Port State Control Officers, there were MARPOL deficiencies identified, related to the 15-ppm Bilge Alarm system of the Oily Water Separators (OWS) onboard four separate ships.
Two ships transporting Iranian LPG or liquid gas, involved in Iran-China deliveries, were reportedly detained in Singapore on July 22 and 24. The detentions come under US sanctions, banning exports of Iranian oil and gas. The two vessels are no longer listed as ‘under Sheriff’s arrest’. Specifically, on the ships seems to have been released, while the other one is still at port.
The Paris MoU announced detention of the general cargo ship ‘Lizori’ in Russian Port of Eysk on 19 July 2019. This is the third detention in the Paris MoU region within the last 36 months. The ship flies the flag of Moldova which is black on the current Paris MoU WGB list.
The US Marshals Service that has under custody the North Korean-owned vessel, Wise Honest, is under discussions on selling the seized vessel, as they have been ordered by a federal court. Yet, it is to be decided whether the Otto Warmbier family will receive the sale proceeds.
Ukraine seized a Russian tanker moored in a river port near the Black Sea, in retaliation for Russia’s seizure of three Ukrainian vessels and arrest of 24 sailors in November 2018. According to Ukraine’s SBU security service, the country seized the Russian tanker ‘Nika Spirit’ in Izmail.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that during June, there were three new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port, whereas four foreign flagged ships remained under detention in UK ports after failing port state control (PSC) inspection.
Diplomatic tensions in the Strait of Hormuz seem to be growing after Iran announced it has seized a foreign tanker it said was smuggling fuel in the Gulf. This could be seen as a retaliation to the seizure of the Iranian tanker Grace 1 by Royal Marines off Gibraltar earlier this month.
The Paris MoU has issued its list of detentions for June 2019, containing information about ships detained in the region during the month under review. The details of detentions are entered in the information system of the Paris MoU after the ship has been released.
UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on July 17, aiming to discuss the detained Iranian oil tanker Grace 1. In addition to the tanker, Ms. May and Mr. Picardo will also discuss Brexit. British Royal Marines captured the oil tanker in Gibraltar on June 27, after being accused of bringing oil to Syria, thus breaching EU sanctions.
