What Crew Members Say About T-Cereal

In a recent development, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has released the 'Nora' and 'Rcelebra', two tankers previously detained off the coast of Penang. These vessels were apprehended on suspicion of conducting illegal ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil valued at an estimated US$129.9 million, approximately 24 nautical miles west of Muka Head. During the incident, the captains of both tankers were arrested and subsequently handed over to authorities in Penang for operating without the necessary permissions and engaging in prohibited transfer activities. Before their release, the 'Rcelebra' was noted heading southwards through the Malacca Strait near Port Dickson. Its low waterline suggested that it remained fully loaded, while the 'Nora' was observed making its way westbound north of Aceh. Both vessels were reportedly transporting Iranian oil, which is subject to sanctions, and destined for China. The 'Nora', a 24-year-old tanker sanctioned by the United States in 2020, has been associated with the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) and is falsely flagged as a vessel from Guyana. Details regarding its classification and insurance status remain undetermined. Meanwhile, the 2005-built 'Rcelebra' is registered under the Cameroonian flag, owned by Capital Flat International Trading based in Hong Kong, and operated by Agility Trading. It is also listed under the European Union sanctions pertaining to Ukraine and is classified by the Dubai-based Royal Classification Society.

On January 29, 2026, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritim Malaysia) took decisive action against illegal ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations off the coast of Penang. The agency detained the tanker 'Rcelebra' during an unauthorized STS transfer to the 'Nora' (IMO: 9237539), located 24 nautical miles west of Muka Head. Investigative reports revealed that the 'Rcelebra' had been clandestinely operating for nearly a decade, while the 'Nora' was notorious for its previous inspection dating back to 2018. Alarmingly, the 'Nora' was registered under a false Guyanese flag, and its ownership remains untraceable. Authorities discovered that the illicit transfer was underway, with approximately 78% of the crude oil already compromised before the operation was detected. The situation came to light after a maritime patrol boat received a distress call regarding the tankers, which were suspected of engaging in illicit oil transfer activities. Upon inspection, officials found both vessels coupled together with a crew of 53 individuals hailing from various nations, including China, Myanmar, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Authorities estimated the value of the seized crude oil to exceed RM512 million, and the detained vessels were appraised at RM718 million. The case is currently being investigated under two critical sections of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952: Section 491B (1)(l), which prohibits anchoring without permission from the Director General of Marine, and Section 491B (1)(k), which forbids unauthorized ship-to-ship transfer activities. Both sections carry hefty penalties—RM100,000 for improper anchoring and RM200,000 for unauthorized transfer. The captains of both vessels have been apprehended and are now in custody for further legal proceedings in line with national maritime laws. Following the seizures, the two ships seemingly attempted to evade further scrutiny. The 'Nora' was last reported to be empty and navigating through the Malacca Straits into the Indian Ocean. In contrast, the 'Rcelebra' was observed drifting eastward towards the Singapore Straits, raising suspicions about a possible cargo route to China. For further details and visual evidence, explore the full report here: https://maritime-executive.com/article/tankers-sail-off-after-malaysia-finds-them-cojoined-and-stops-illegal-sts.

In response to increased scrutiny from the Greek navy, oil traders dealing in Russian crude have relocated their ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations to a new site in the Mediterranean, situated near the city of Nador on Morocco’s eastern coast. This strategic move comes after Greece's navy initiated a series of naval exercises in the previous location, aimed at dissuading the ongoing oil trades. The new transfer area is notably in proximity to Melilla, a Spanish enclave, which raises the possibility that Spain could activate similar preventive measures as those taken 140 miles west near its other enclave, Ceuta, which effectively curtailed previous activities. The vessel 'Rolin' was seen receiving Urals crude from the smaller tanker 'Serendi' (IMO: 9296810), marking a significant debut for STS transfers of this grade at the new location. Additionally, two more Aframax-class tankers, 'Ocean AMZ' and 'Sea Fidelity,' have recently joined the site, collectively loading approximately 730,000 barrels of Urals crude from Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk. This development underscores the dynamic nature of maritime oil trading amidst evolving geopolitical challenges.