Diplomatic Row Over Suezmax

Iran claimed that the reason for detaining the Shipping Corporation of India’s Suezmax ‘Desh Shanti’ was that it had allegedly discharged oily water near Iran

Suezmax detention causes diplomatic row

Iran claimed that the reason for detaining the Shipping Corporation of India’s Suezmax ‘Desh Shanti’ was that it had allegedly discharged oily water near Iran.

The vessel was detained by Iranian authorities last week and since then a diplomatic row has broken out between the two countries, which at the time of writing were locked in discussions about how to resolve the situation.

According to the Iranian Fars news agency, head of sea pollution department of the Iranian environment protection organisation, Nima Pourang said that the tanker discharged its oily ballast water 30 miles away from Lavan island in Persian Gulf, which caused a 10 mile oil slick.

“Right now, the experts of Iranian ports and maritime organisation are observing the tanker,” he said, adding that all ships that pass through Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, must report possible pollution to the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC).

It should be noted that earlier The Times of India reported the ship being on its way to the Bandar Abbas port, guided by the IRGC, while Fars reported the ship being taken to the Khor Musa port in Iran’s Khuzestan province, Reuters reported.

India has cut crude imports from Iran, a fall out of sanctions imposed by the US and the EU. The cut, has helped India – along with China and South Korea – win a waiver from the US allowing it to continue to import crude from Iran.

Source: Tanker Operator