According to the writings of Reuters, the tanker M.T. Tour which was held by the Egyptian authorities at the Suez Canal for five days has paid the passage fees and thus ensured its passage through the area on Tuesday.
The Maltese-flagged ship was carrying 120,000 tons cargo of Syrian light crude headed to a state-run Chinese company. Nevertheless, the U.S. Treasury Department determined that the ship is actually owned by ISIM Tour Ltd., an Iranian company that was evading sanctions imposed by the Western and Arab countries on Syria.
Such measures are directed at forcing President Bashar al-Assad to put a stop on the armed rebellion and the on-going bloodshed in the country. The conflict is an immediate result of the year-long revolt against Assad’s rule which began as peaceful protests and according to the UN ended up in taking the toll of over 9,000 civilians.
The Maltese transport authorities delisted the M.T. Tour instantly upon receiving information that the Iranian ship flying the Maltese merchant shipping flag was carrying Syrian cargo, thus directly breaching international sanctions.
“After the necessary verifications with the owners of the Motor Tanker ‘Tour’ and other ships, it was decided that such ships’ registration certificates would be suspended immediately and they will be struck off the Maltese merchant shipping register within a month,” the Maltese Foreign Ministry said.
Iran, one of the most vigorous backers of Assad’s regime sent the vessel to be loaded with the cargo at the Syrian port of Tartus last weekend, since Syria was unable to find another vessel to take the $84 million worth cargo to Singapore.
[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, April 5, 2012