Tanker Suez Rajan Involved In The US Seizure Of Iranian Oil Cargo Changes Its Name

An oil tanker seized by the US for transporting Iranian oil and then directed to the U.S. Gulf Coast was sailing to the Bahamas on Wednesday with a new name, ship tracking data reflected.

The oil tanker, Suez Rajan, was the subject of attention in 2023 for transporting over 980,000 barrels of Iranian contraband crude oil, which the U.S. seized through a sanctions enforcement mission.

It could not unload Iranian crude for nearly two and half months due to fears of secondary sanctions on the vessels used for unloading it. It was titled St Nikolas after offloading of the cargoes.

The vessel completely unloaded Iranian crude this month, and the Suez Rajan Ltd also pleaded guilty this year in April. It was reportedly sentenced to three years of corporate probation and a nearly $2.5 million fine, per legal documents.

Empire Navigation continued its operations of Suez Rajan under its new name, shipping data reflects. The ship was sailing empty and reported at Freeport in the Bahamas as the next destination, per LSEG ship tracking data.

Buckeye Partners, the infrastructure and logistics provider, has a crude oil terminal storage in Freeport, Bahamas.

Empire Navigation and Buckeye did not respond to requests for comments immediately.

References: The Print, Reuters

Tanker Suez Rajan Involved In The US Seizure Of Iranian Oil Cargo Changes Its Name appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News