Join our crew and become one of the 104,732 members that receive our newsletter.

Oil supertanker Grace 1 sits anchored in waters of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar

Seized Supertanker ‘Grace 1’ at Full Capacity with Crude, Gibraltar Says

Reuters
Total Views: 116
July 9, 2019

A British Royal Navy patrol vessel guards the oil supertanker Grace 1, that’s on suspicion of carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria, as it sits anchored in waters of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, July 4, 2019. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

reuters logo LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) – Tests have shown a supertanker seized in Gibraltar last week was fully loaded with crude oil, the government of the British territory said on Monday.

British Royal Marines boarded the ship, Grace 1, off the coast of Gibraltar on Thursday and seized it for trying to take oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

“Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar can now confirm, after having received the results of comprehensive laboratory testing, that … the Grace 1, which was detained in the early hours of Thursday morning, is loaded to capacity with crude oil,” the government said in a statement.

“The results of these tests … contradict the statements of some commentators from outside the jurisdiction who had speculated that the cargo on the vessel was not crude.”

The statement said the Grace 1 was detained when it freely navigated into British Gibraltar’s territorial waters, having previously left the international waters of the Straits of Gibraltar on a pre-arranged call for provisions and spare parts.

BP Tanker Shelters in Persian Gulf Over Fear of Iran Retaliation

Spain, which challenges British ownership of Gibraltar, had said last week the action was prompted by a U.S. request to Britain and appeared to have taken place in Spanish waters.

Gibraltar’s statement said the vessel’s detention related to the suspected destination of the cargo, Syria’s Banyas refinery, which is owned by the Banyas Oil Refinery Company and subject to EU sanctions.

Legal specialists say the EU sanctions only explicitly prohibit the export of jet fuel to Syria although a sale to any buyer or end user who is designated would be a breach of the regulations.

The Gibraltar authorities did not disclose the origin of the oil, although Iranian officials have said it was their tanker. (Reporting by Kate Holton, Kylie MacLellan and Jonathan Saul; Editing by William Maclean and Andrew Cawthorne)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019.

Read: Oil Tanker Seized In Gibraltar, What’s Next?

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up
Back to Main
polygon icon polygon icon

Why Join the gCaptain Club?

Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.

Sign Up
close

JOIN OUR CREW

Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 104,732 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.

Join Our Crew

Join the 104,732 members that receive our newsletter.