UAE Ship Stopped on Suspicion of Arms Smuggling
A European Union naval vessel on Thursday stopped a ship that was carrying jet fuel from the United Arab Emirates to Libya on suspicion it was violating a United Nations arms embargo, EU officials said.The EU military mission, named Irini, is operating in the Mediterranean to stop arms from reach warring factions in Libya.The mission said in a statement that a German frigate, supported by an Italian frigate, stopped the merchant vessel Royal Diamond 7 just after dawn in international waters…
Libya says Probe of Seized Tanker to Start After Quarantine
Libya's internationally recognized government will start an investigation into a tanker over alleged sanctions-breaking after a period of quarantine ends in two weeks, the coast guard commander who seized the vessel said on Wednesday.The coast guard at Misrata seized the Gulf Petroleum 4 three days ago, Rida Issa said, after the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said the tanker had broken an arms embargo and other international agreements by offloading jet fuel in Benghazi.Benghazi is the seat of a parallel administration in the east whose Libyan National Army (LNA) has been trying for a year to capture the capital Tripoli, where the internationally…
GAC EnvironHull Reaches Third UAE Port
Following the expansion to Fujairah and Gothenburg, GAC EnvironHull is now offering its HullWiper underwater hull cleaning service at the UAE port of Sharjah. The HullWiper, a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) underwater hull cleaning unit, uses adjustable pressure sea water jets for cleaning, rather than brushes or abrasives, causing minimal damage to the antifouling surface. Residues and harmful marine growths captured during cleaning are discarded in an environmentally-friendly manner, opposed to sea disposal performed in traditional methods.
Car Carrier Escapes Pirate Attack
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) reported that its operated car carrier Jasmine Ace was fired on by pirates in two high-speed boats about 480 miles (about 900km) east of Somalia around at 22:10 JST on Sunday, March 22 (local time: 16:10 on March 22). The ship sustained some damage to the hull, but quickly accelerated and took evasive action such as zigzagging. After about 40 minutes, the pirates gave up chasing her at 22:50 on Sunday, March 22. No one was injured in the attack, and no oil leaked from the hull. Bullets also damaged some windows in the wheelhouse, but the Jasmine Ace continues under its own power, and is now proceeding toward safer waters. The vessel loaded the cars at the port of Sharjah in United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, March 17, and was under way to Mombasa, Kenya.
Ships Abandoned at UAE Ports
The Khaleej Times reported that at least two ships are currently being abandoned at UAE ports, with some 16 seamen of Asian and Middle Eastern origin being left at the mercy of charitable organizations like the Mission to Seafarers. One tugboat with four crew members and a small tanker vessel with 12 seamen are currently being abandoned by their owners at Hamriyah in Dubai and Hamriyah Port in Sharjah respectively. The four-member crew, all Indians, of the tugboat, which is owned by an Iraqi, has not been paid for four months now, and is now relying on the mission. The tug has been sold to another Iraqi. The other ship, a feeder diesel smuggling vessel, has 12 crew members, including Syrians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, who have also not been paid by the owner for several months now.
