Libya Rejects Loading Of Crude Oil Tanker “Proteus Philippa” Amidst Israeli Port Visit

The crude oil tanker “Proteus Philippa,” registered in Singapore, was involved in a significant incident. On November 7, the 110,000 deadweight tons (dwt) vessel under Singaporean management was refused access to the Mellitah Anchorage in Libya.

Operating in the Mellitah Anchorage west of Tripoli, the Mellitah Oil and Gas Company directed the Proteus Philippa to leave without loading the 600,000 barrels of crude oil scheduled to be loaded.

The tanker had previously called at the Israeli port of Haifa in October, where it offloaded barrels, and this information contributed to the judgment.

According to AIS data, the ship sailed from Italy and stopped in Malta to bunker before arriving in Mellitah. The ship was turned away when Mellitah terminal operators verified the Israeli port visit.

Additionally, despite not representing an official Arab World position, this activity is seen as a form of protest against Israel.

Industry sources indicate an increasing tendency among terminal operators to closely examine the ships they serve and their prior ports of call.

As a result, shipbrokers and owners often choose to turn off their AIS systems to hide their whereabouts when travelling to Israel.

This event is part of an overall pattern of consequences linked to the Gaza conflict in the shipping sector.

According to recent reports, Zhonggu Shipping, a state-owned maritime firm in China, instructed Kalypso Compagnia di Navigazione, its charter, to send only one containership to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The reason was safety concerns, resulting in a lawsuit between the shipowner and the alliance. There have been reports of similar port refusal scenarios, such as an Australian containership that encountered protesters as it approached the Port Botany terminal close to Sydney.

References- Fleetmon

Libya Rejects Loading Of Crude Oil Tanker “Proteus Philippa” Amidst Israeli Port Visit appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News