Indonesia Seizes Two Iranian and Panamanian Oil Tankers
Indonesia’s coast guard seized two Iranian and Panamanian oil tankers in the coastal waters of Pontianak. Indonesia has accused the two tankers of violating regulations including failing to display national flags, disabling navigation and radar systems, and illegal oil transfer.
Indonesian authorities announced that they seized an Iranian oil tanker and a Panamanian tanker, suspected of illegal oil transfer, on Sunday, January 24. These tankers were engaged in oil transfer operations in maritime boundaries.
Visnu Pramaditta, spokesman for Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency, said that the MT Hourse flying an Iranian flag and the MT Frea flying a Panamanian flag were seized in waters west of Kalimantan province.
He stated that these tankers are suspected of committing multiple regulatory violations, including failing to display national flags, disabling navigation and radar systems, illegal anchoring, and illegal fuel transfer, in such a way that some of the oil spilled into the sea.
Iran’s state television confirmed the seizure of these tankers based on data from Indonesian authorities but refrained from mentioning details.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Indonesia’s coast guard directed the two tankers to Batam port in the Riau Islands for further investigation.
Strict U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil industry have forced Islamic Republic authorities to transfer Iranian oil in international waters to other tankers. In such cases, navigation and radar systems and tanker identification systems are turned off.
Source: DW
