AFM makes contact with tanker carrying ‘illegal’ Libyan oil

The Armed Forces of Malta has made contact with a tanker carrying crude oil from Eastern Libya in defiance of authorities in the capital Tripoli.

MaltaToday is informed that the Indian-flagged Distya Ameya has confirmed its intention to carry out operations outside Maltese territorial waters.

A spokesperson for the Armed Forces of Malta confirmed that the army was monitoring the movements of the vessel. “The AFM is working in close liaison with the respective competent authorities including Transport Malta and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the spokesperson said.

The government based in eastern Libya yesterday shipped its first cargo of crude in defiance of authorities in the capital Tripoli, a bold move that could deepen the divisions that have brought chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

The Tripoli authorities called the shipment “illegal” and asked the UN Security Council on Tuesday to blacklist the India-flagged tanker Distya Ameya, which left the eastern Libyan port of Hariga overnight carrying oil they said could not be lawfully sold.

The eastern government has set up its own National Oil Corporation (NOC) to act in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC that is recognised internationally as the only legitimate seller of Libyan oil.

On Tuesday, the Maltese government said it was in contact with the authorities and “interested countries” over the reported sale of crude oil to a company based in the United Arab Emirates.

Informed sources have told MaltaToday that the Distya Ameya was not authorised to enter Maltese territorial waters.

On Tuesday, Transport Malta, a regulator for shipping, said vessel was either out of the Malta Vessel Traffic Services range or not transmitting its position.

“To date, there was no communication from the ship or its representatives with Transport Malta,” the authority told MaltaToday. “In any case, the vessel will be restricted entry in Maltese territorial waters. Transport Malta is liaising with the Armed Forces of Malta and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.”