Iranian tanker to leave Gibraltar soon despite US pressure

[Eugene]

LBN article: US unveils warrant to seize Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar dispute

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Source: Associated Press

Iranian tanker to leave Gibraltar soon despite US pressure

By ARITZ PARRA and HERNAN MUÑOZ
August 17, 2019

GIBRALTAR (AP) — The shipping agent for an Iranian supertanker caught in a diplomatic standoff says the vessel is ready to depart Gibraltar on Sunday or Monday, as the U.S. made a last-minute effort to seize it again.

The head of the company sorting paperwork and procuring for the Grace 1 oil tanker in the British overseas territory said the vessel could be sailing away in the next “24 to 48 hours,” once new crews dispatched to the territory take over command of the ship.

“The vessel is ongoing some logistical changes and requirements that have delayed the departure,” Astralship managing director Richard De la Rosa told The Associated Press.

De la Rosa’s comments came a day after the U.S. obtained a warrant to seize the vessel over violations of U.S. sanctions on Iran. It was unclear if that could happen within a 24-hour time frame as Gibraltar officials have said any request to seize the vessel would have to make its way through the territory’s courts.

He said the new crews were Indian and Ukrainian nationals hired by the Indian managers of the ship and that his company had not been informed about the supertanker’s next destination.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/8cd11470b3344d02ab86ecdd2de4bdc3

[Eugene]

1. Grace 1 tanker raises Iranian flag, changes name to 'Adrian Darya-1'

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS AUGUST 18, 2019 / 7:23 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Grace 1 tanker raises Iranian flag, changes name to 'Adrian Darya-1'

GIBRALTAR (Reuters) - An Iranian tanker caught in a stand-off between Tehran and the West has raised an Iranian flag and has had a new name painted on its side, Reuters images of the stationary vessel filmed off Gibraltar showed on Sunday.

British Royal Marines seized the vessel in Gibraltar in July on suspicion that it was carrying oil to Syria, a close ally of Iran, in violation of European Union sanctions.

Video footage and photographs showed the tanker flying the red, green and white flag of Iran and bearing the new name of ‘Adrian Darya-1’ painted in white on its hull. Its previous name, ‘Grace 1’, had been painted over. The vessel’s anchor was still down.

The Grace 1 had originally flown the Panamian flag but Panama’s Maritime Authority said in July that the vessel had been de-listed after an alert that indicated the ship had participated in or was linked to terrorism financing.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-iran-tanker-gibraltar/grace-1-tanker-raises-iranian-flag-changes-name-to-adrian-darya-1-idUSKCN1V80A5

[soryang]

2. Finally the admission from Gibraltar

“The EU sanctions regime against Iran – which is applicable in Gibraltar - is much narrower than that applicable in the US,” the government said in a statement.