The Sevin: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a significant move amidst ongoing sanctions, the tankers 'Sevin' and 'Dorena' (IMO: 9569669) were intercepted in the Arabian Sea as they attempted to navigate past the blockade deadline of April 13. The U.S. military deployed destroyers to escort these vessels, ensuring that no unauthorized offloading of their sanctioned cargo took place. Meanwhile, the tanker 'Derya' (IMO: 9569700) has found itself stranded at anchorage off the coast of Sika. In contrast to the apprehended ships, 'Derya' has not faced military intervention. Its oil cargo, loaded after the U.S. waiver deadline of March 20, has been officially rejected by Indian refineries, which are keen to avoid the repercussions of secondary sanctions.

In a significant maritime development, the Greek bunker supplier Sekavin S.A. has denied refueling the tanker 'Baikal,' owned by the National Iranian Tanker Co. (NITC), due to an ongoing embargo by the European Union related to Iran's nuclear program. The incident occurred when the tanker, which was flying the Tanzanian flag, attempted to load bunker fuel on the Greek island of Syros. Following a thorough investigation to ensure compliance with regulations, Sekavin, in conjunction with customs officials, determined that supplying fuel to the 'Baikal' would infringe upon EU laws, given its connection to Iranian interests. On November 29, officials from Sekavin assessed the documentation accompanying a significant shipment of 146,000 tons of crude oil but found that it lacked clarity regarding the ultimate recipient of the fuel. Following this refusal, the 'Baikal' set sail from Syros at approximately 8 p.m. on November 27. A mere 17 minutes into its journey towards Myconos, the vessel's Automatic Identification System (AIS) was disabled, raising immediate concerns. As a precautionary measure, customs officers on Syros alerted the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE), which unfortunately lacks the means to pursue such maritime incidents. Consequently, the Greek Coastguard was deployed to initiate a search for the tanker. Authorities suspect that the 'Baikal' may have been attempting to deliver oil to a recipient in Greece or the Balkans, potentially circumventing the EU embargo regulations. The search underscores the ongoing challenges maritime authorities face amid tightening restrictions and heightened scrutiny over oil shipments linked to Iran.

Amid ongoing European Union restrictions on Iranian oil purchases, Greek fuel supplier Sekavin SA has begun an investigation into the origins of a ship fuel cargo aboard the tanker 'Baikal,' which is currently anchored off the coast of Syros. The vessel, identified under IMO number 1234567, made its arrival near the island on November 26, 2012. Notably, the contentious cargo has yet to be unloaded as the tanker remains under the management of Tehran-based National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC). The 'Baikal' was previously reported to be off the Moroccan coast just weeks prior on November 11, raising further questions about the legitimacy of its fuel supply.