Two VLCCs detained for illegal crude transfers off Penang have been released, raising concerns over their cargo of sanctioned Iranian oil.
Two VLCCs detained by Malaysia off Penang for suspected illegal ship-to-ship crude transfers worth US$129.9 million have been released, reports the UK's Seatrade Maritime News.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained the Nora and Rcelebra after intercepting them 24 nautical miles west of Muka Head. The captains were arrested and handed over to Penang investigators for anchoring without permission and conducting illegal transfers.
AIS data showed the Rcelebra heading south through the Malacca Strait near Port Dickson, while the Nora was westbound north of Aceh. The Rcelebra was later seen transiting the Singapore Strait low in the water, suggesting it remained fully loaded.
Charlie Brown of United Against a Nuclear Iran praised Malaysia's action but questioned why the ships were released, noting they were carrying sanctioned Iranian oil bound for China.
The 24-year-old Nora, sanctioned by the US in 2020, is linked to NITC and flagged falsely to Guyana. Its classification and insurer are unclear. The Rcelebra, built in 2005, is flagged with Cameroon, owned by Capital Flat Intl Trading in Hong Kong, and operated by Agility Trading. It is on the EU Ukraine sanctions list and classed with Dubai-based Royal Classification Society.
Illegal transfers are common off Malaysia's east coast, but rare near the Malacca Strait. Brown asked if authorities would act against the larger number of dark fleet tankers operating off Johor in the South China Sea.
