Another tanker seized in Libya

Two more vessels were arrested by the Libyan Coastguard on Aug 30, 2017, off the west coast of Libya. The "Rex" and a fishing boat have been taken to Tripoli where the crews were being questioned. The tanker had been tracked for several days. It allegedly contained 1,160,000 litres of fuel. The Navy claimed the cargo was being smuggled. However, it is unclear were the diesel was loaded. The second boat captured by the Libyan coastguard was a Maltese trawler which was allegedly caught fishing without authorisation in Libyan territorial waters. This makes three vessels detained by the Libyan coastguard this week. On Aug 30, the Greek-owned oil tanker "Levante" was seized off Zawia also on suspicion of fuel smuggling. It was taken to Tripoli where it was still being held.