Tripoli, 16 March 2014:
The oil tanker Morning Glory which left Libya loaded with a shipment of illegal . . .[restrict]crude has been spotted off the coast of Cyprus.
The country’s marine authorities said it had been seen in international waters around 18 nautical miles from Cyprus, according to the Cypriot media.
It apparently changed course yesterday and headed back out into international waters.
The vessel is not only only carrying the illegal shipment of oil but it is believed to be sailing without being registered to any country – a requirement for merchant vessels under international maritime law. The Morning Glory was stripped of its right to sail under the North Korean flag after taking on the crude from eastern oil ports blockaded by federalists. North Korea said this breached the terms of the contract, made through an Egyptian shipping logistics firm.
Mystery continues to surround who owns and operates the vessel, which reportedly changed its name, owner, flag of convenience some three weeks ago. [/restrict]
