Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Echo-Star

The 'Echo Star', a prominent tanker that was detained in Singapore on November 7, 2019, has officially been released as of December 21. Following its release, the vessel is now en route to Dong Guan, with an expected arrival date of December 27. This development marks a significant moment for the 'Echo Star' and its stakeholders, allowing the ship to continue its operations in the maritime trade sector.

The tanker Echo Star has been detained in Singapore following a request from the Blue Fleet Group. Authorities revealed that the vessel's seizure stems from collision claims that were filed with the High Court of Singapore. According to court documents, the legal action concerns damages inflicted upon the Royal Arsenal when the ship was operating under the name Gas Infinity for the sanctioned Chinese shipowner, KunLun Shipping. The Echo Star was carrying cargo sourced from Iran in mid-October and was passing through the Singapore Strait at the time of its detention, with its hold still laden. This incident highlights ongoing legal battles in the maritime industry as companies navigate complex regulatory waters.

In a significant legal development in Singapore, the owner of the 'Echo Star', a tanker transporting Iranian liquid gas, has been granted just one week to respond before the vessel faces auctioning. This ruling follows the seizure of the tanker under the jurisdiction of the Singapore courts. Originally, in July 2019, Singapore's port authorities had detained two oil tankers linked to Chinese Kunlun Shipping Company for carrying Iranian petroleum products. These vessels were previously known as 'Gas Infinity' and 'Gas Dragon', but have since been rebranded to 'Echo Star' and 'Nexo', respectively. The 'Echo Star' has a controversial history, reportedly transporting Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to China while evading U.S. sanctions. Investigations reveal that the tanker employed deceptive practices to mask the origin of its cargoes, including disabling its AIS transponder during loading at Iranian ports and engaging in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Malacca Strait. After being released in July, the 'Echo Star' returned to Singapore's waters in mid-October, where it once again took on cargo from Iran. Unfortunately for the vessel, it was apprehended while navigating the Singapore Strait, leading to its designation in the 'vessels under Sheriff's arrest' category. As it stands, the court has issued a seven-day ultimatum for the vessel's owner to resolve the outstanding legal matters. If there is no settlement made, the vessel will be put up for public auction approximately six weeks following its arrest. Currently, the 'Echo Star' is anchored at West Anchorage in Singapore, with coordinates 01° 10.56' N 103° 42.24' E. Meanwhile, its counterpart, the 'Nexo', remains idle and anchored in the waters of the Persian Gulf. Notably, the U.S. has placed the Chinese Kunlun Shipping company on its sanctions blacklist, citing violations related to U.S. sanctions against Iran. This prohibition extends not only to the shipping entity but also to a sister bank, both of which are registered in the British Virgin Islands. China continues to be a significant buyer of Iranian LPG, as well as importing a limited volume of crude oil from the Islamic Republic.