Discover the Sea-Puma: Ratings & Maritime News

On November 30, 2020, the tanker vessel 'Sea Puma' was seized at the Tema port in Ghana due to suspicions of smuggling gasoline products. Authorities from the Ghana Revenue Authority's Customs Division discovered that the tanker, which had reportedly declared its cargo as sludge, was actually transporting liquid hydrocarbons in an apparent attempt to evade taxes. Sludge, typically composed of over 50% water, is often exempt from taxation, which raised further suspicions among the officials. The vessel’s operator, Kpabulga Energy Ltd., had submitted a request on November 23 to the Director of Tema Port for clearance to offload approximately 200 cubic liters of sludge—a blend of oil, water, and other materials—into the port. However, as the Sea Puma was transferring gasoline into Bulk Road Vehicles, commonly known as tanker trucks, Customs agents intervened and halted the operation, leading to the vessel's impoundment.