Vietnam: Coastguard arrests vessel transporting 60,000 litres of illegal diesel oil

Vessel ‘BT 99998 TS’ was arrested in the sea area about 115 nautical miles southeast of Con Dao over illegal diesel oil cargo.

Published

3 years ago

October 25, 2021

Admin

The Vietnam Coastguard on Tuesday (19 October) said it has arrested vessel “BT 99998 TS” in the sea area about 115 nautical miles southeast of Con Dao over a cargo of illegal diesel oil.

An initial investigation found the vessel to be operated by seven crew led by a Captain.

The Captain testified the ship was transporting 60,000 liters of diesel oil but failed to present receipts or supporting documents proving the origin of the goods.

The 3rd Coast Guard Region Command recorded the administrative violations and carried out further procedures in accordance with the law.

A series of earlier Vietnamese Coast Guard arrests covered by Manifold Times in 2021 are as follows:

Additionally, earlier Vietnamese Coast Guard arrests covered by Manifold Times before 2021 can be found below at the link here.

Photo credit: Vietnam Coast Guard
Published: 25 October, 2021

Singapore: Marshall Islands-flagged bulker “Alpha” placed under Sheriff’s arrest

Vessel was arrested at 1.11am on 21 March and is currently held at Eastern Special Purposes A Anchorage, A/5617C; arresting solicitor listed was law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP.

Published

3 days ago

March 25, 2025

Admin

A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, Alpha, was arrested in Singapore waters on Friday (21 March).

The vessel was added to the list of vessels under Sheriff’s arrest in Singapore’s court system.

According to the list, the vessel was arrested at 1.11am and the arresting solicitor listed was law firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP. The ship is currently held at Eastern Special Purposes A Anchorage, A/5617C.

No details were provided in the list regarding the reason behind the arrest.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Andy Ru
Published: 25 March, 2024

Sanctions

US OFAC sanctions first Chinese teapot refinery and oil tankers over Iranian links

Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical and its chief executive officer were added to OFAC’s sanctions list for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil.

Published

4 days ago

March 24, 2025

Admin

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Thursday (20 March) sanctioned a “teapot” oil refinery and its chief executive officer for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil, including from vessels linked to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, and the Iranian Ministry of Defense of Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd (Luqing Petrochemical), a teapot refinery in Shandong Province, has purchased millions of barrels of Iranian oil worth approximately half a billion dollars.

Luqing Petrochemical received Iranian oil transported by shadow fleet vessels, some of which have been sanctioned for their role transporting Iranian petroleum linked to the Houthis and MODAFL, including the MEHLE (IMO: 9191711) and the KOHANA (IMO: 9254082). In mid-2022, Luqing Petrochemical was identified as a buyer of Iranian oil associated with the Iranian military and Iranian military forces.

Luqing Petrochemical is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. PRC national Wang Xueqing serves as the chief executive officer and legal representative of Luqing Petrochemical, and is being concurrently designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Luqing Petrochemical.

“Teapot refinery purchases of Iranian oil provide the primary economic lifeline for the Iranian regime, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

“The United States is committed to cutting off the revenue streams that enable Tehran’s continued financing of terrorism and development of its nuclear program.”

OFAC additionally imposed sanctions on 19 entities and vessels responsible for shipping millions of barrels of Iranian oil, comprising part of Iran’s “shadow fleet” of tankers supplying teapot refineries like Luqing Petrochemical.

Iranian crude oil is transported to teapot refineries via a “shadow fleet” of vessels that usually engage in deceptive shipping practices, including automatic identification system (AIS) manipulation.

OFAC sanctioned eight vessels that constitute part of this fleet, including the Comoros-flagged NATALINA 7 (IMO: 9310147), Panama-flagged CATALINA 7 (IMO: 9310159), AURORA RILEY (IMO: 9181649), and VIOLA (IMO: 9254915), San Marino-flagged MONTROSE (IMO: 9281695), Barbados-flagged VOLANS (IMO: 9422988) and BRAVA LAKE (IMO: 9232876), and the currently unflagged TITAN (IMO: 9293741).

Photo credit: tommao wang on Unsplash
Published: 24 March, 2025

Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains Singapore-flagged bulker for illegal anchoring in Perak

“Queen Harmony”, operated by an Egyptian captain along with one Russian, two Ukrainians and 17 Filipino crew members, was detained about 13 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Jarak.

Published

1 week ago

March 20, 2025

Admin

Malaysia: MMEA detains Singapore-flagged bulker for illegal anchoring in Perak

Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Tuesday (18 March) detained a Singapore-flagged bulk carrier for anchoring without permission about 13 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Jarak at 3.30pm on 17 March.

Perak MMEA director Maritime Capt Mohamad Shukri Khotob said the vessel, Queen Harmony, was operated by an Egyptian captain along with one Russian, two Ukrainians and 17 Filipino crew members.

Further investigation found that the ship failed to present any documents for permission to anchor and did not report their arrival in Malaysian waters.

The case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which carries a fine of not more than MYR 100,000 or a jail term of not more than two years, or both, for anchoring without permission. It is also being investigated for the offence of failing to report its arrival, which carries a fine of up to MYR 5,000.

Two crew members of the ship were taken to the Perak State Maritime Headquarters for further investigation.

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 20 March, 2025