The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Tribunal) on 6 July issued an order to have Switzerland post a US $14 million bond to Nigeria for the release of bunker tanker M/T San Padre Pio, its cargo, the Master and three officers from Nigerian waters.
The Swiss-flagged 7,616 dwt bunker tanker M/T San Padre Pio was arrested by the Nigerian navy on 23 January 2018 and has been detained at Port Harcourt in Nigeria.
A panel of lawyers representing Switzerland argued “bunkering activities carried out by the M/T San Padre Pio in the exclusive economic zone of Nigeria are part of the freedom of navigation” and “that it has exclusive jurisdiction as the flag State over the vessel with respect to such bunkering activities”.
Nigeria’s argument was “it has sovereign rights and obligations […] to exercise its enforcement jurisdiction over the bunkering activities in question in its exclusive economic zone”.
The Tribunal “considers it appropriate under the circumstances of the present case to prescribe provisional measures requiring Nigeria to release the M/T San Padre Pio, its cargo and the Master and the three officers upon the posting of a bond or other financial security by Switzerland and that the vessel with its cargo and the Master and the three officers be allowed to leave the territory and maritime areas under the jurisdiction of Nigeria”
The Tribunal “determines that the bond or other financial security should be in the amount of US$ 14,000,000”.
The full judgment of the case heard by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea may be viewed here.
Photo credit: International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Published: 18 July, 2019
Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.
ADNOC L&S, Gulf Energy Maritime, Cockett Marine Oil, Mideast/Bahri Ship Management and VPS experts present their views on biofuel bunker hurdles at the VPS Biofuels Seminar in Dubai on 16 March.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.