Libyan military forces have impounded a tanker looking to export crude oil from a rebel-held port as the country’s battle over its lucrative petroleum resources continues.
Government forces had threatened to bomb the North Korean-registered tanker if it had attempted to leave the Es Sider terminal with its $36million cargo.
But instead the country’s navy has impounded the vessel, which will be taken to the Government-controlled Qasr Ahmed port in Misrata.
“The ship has been seized by government forces,” said a spokesman for the Libyan government.
“There are no damages to the ship.”
The ship had arrived in Es Sider on Saturday, after Libyan armed forces initially refused government orders to fire on it. The country’s air force leaders said they did not wish to risk harming civilians or causing a major oil spill.
The crude loaded on the tanker belongs to the Waha Oil Co., a joint venture between the NOC, Marathon Oil Corp., Hess Corp. and ConocoPhillips, according to the state-owned company.
The ship was identified the ship yesterday as the North Korea-flagged Morning Glory, with a capacity of 350,000 barrels. It changed name from the Gulf Glory last month, andter previously being under the Liberian flag.
The registered owner of the Gulf Glory is UAE-based Sea Pride Shipping, who said they were in dispute with the vessel’s operator.
“Sea Pride Shipping currently has no operational control over the vessel, including where she operates and what cargo she may be carrying,” said a spokeswoman.
The US State Department said it was “deeply concerned” that the tanker was loading crude at Es Sider without the authorization of a U.S.-Libyan joint venture that produced it. Any buyers of this oil would incur penalties, the State Department said in a statement yesterday.