The Maltese-flagged crude oil tanker Seachance has continued to load cargo at the Hariga oil export terminal in Libya after a three-week-long blockade by the Beyda government, Reuters reports citing local government officials.
As disclosed, the ship returned to the port on Thursday when in started to load oil again destined for oil trader Glencore.
The ship’s AIS data indicate that the oil tanker has completed cargo loading and is underway since Friday, May 2oth using engine bound for Valletta, Malta, its estimated time of arrival being Sunday, May 22nd.
The tanker was allowed to load again following striking of a deal between the two rival governments in Libya earlier this week the objective being resuming oil shipments from the country’s port which accounts for the third of exports of Libya’s total oil production.
The deal was struck so as to avoid damage to pipelines since the blockade started affecting technical capabilities of the port and the port’s production capability.
The blockade of Marsa el-Hariga port has been in force since April 30, after the Indian-flagged vessel Distya Ameya, which attempted to ship first crude oil for Libya’s rival government, was prevented from doing so, following blacklisting from the UN Security Council, forcing it to return the cargo.
Beyda-based government issued a counter blow to Tripoli by blocking crude oil loadings of the National Oil Corporation’s (NOC) vessels, including that of Seachance, resulting in cargo cancellations.
World Maritime News Staff