By Tom Westcott.
Tripoli, 10 March 2014:
The North Korean-flagged tanker that has illegally loaded a shipment of crude from Es-sider oil export . . .[restrict]terminal is still berthed in the port, according to the National Oil Company (NOC).
“The ship has not left. It is still at the port,” NOC spokesperson Mohamed Al-Harrari told the Libya Herald.
He said that NOC was receiving constant updates on the status of the tanker. Reports were now also being received from vessels under control of military forces that yesterday surrounded the port, he added.
The tanker, named Morning Glory, docked at Es-sider early Saturday morning and loading operations started in the evening. Well-placed sources said that the captain of the ship had wanted to leave without the oil but that he and the crew were threatened by those controlling the port.
Shipping sources claimed that Morning Glory stopped loading at around 60 percent capacity, having taken on the equivalent of some 180,000 barrels of oil. Harrari was unable to confirm how much crude the tanker had loaded.
Yesterday four vessels under the control of the Navy were stationed outside Es-sider harbour, ready to apprehend the vessel if it tried to set sail.
At least 13 vessels from Misrata were also reported to be heading to Es-sider yesterday. These set sail in the afternoon after apparently being modified and armed with anti-aircraft guns. These, Misratan sources said, were not for use against Morning Glory but for protection if boats operating under Ibrahim Jadhran opened fire.
The federalists who have control of Es-sider port have also reportedly armed tugboats with ‘technicals’ – improvised four wheel drive vehicles fitted with anti-aircraft guns – to provide ‘safe’ escort for the tanker into international waters. [/restrict]
