Palmali Issues Strong Denial that its Ships Were Used for Oil Smuggling
The Palmali Group of Companies (Palmali), which has several Malta-based subsidiaries, has issued a strong rejection to allegations its vessels have been involved with alleged oil smuggling activities by the Islamic State (ISIS) and BMZ Group (BMZ), a company owned by the Turkish president's son, Maltese media reports.
"None of our client's vessels are involved in the transportation of illegal products or products covered by sanctions or are otherwise involved in any illegal activity whatsoever," stated Palmali.
The comments come in response to a December 13 article published by the Malta Independent, which suggested that Maltese ships taken over by Palmali from BMZ were involved in ISIS oil trade.
Palmali's legal representation has since said that the ships, which were taken over by Palmali on a bareboat charter basis, have only been used to transport vegetables oils and chemicals.
The vessels in question are MT Mecid Aslanov, MT Begin Aslanova, MT Poet Qabil, MT Armada Breeze, and MT Armada Fair.Palmali asserts that it completes regular due diligence on BMZ and its business activities, and notes that all the vessels in question are Maltese-flagged, and thereby tracked byTransport Malta.
Further, the company asserts that only one of the five ships allegedly involved in the illegal oil transport activities has made one internal voyage within Turkey, during which time was carrying a cargo of sunflower seed oil.
"The article in question is replete with serious allegations about our clients all of which are manifestly unfounded and unsupported by facts," read a Palmali statement.
The Malta Independent said it was simply "reporting the various allegations that are widely available in the Turkish and Russian press, which are readily available online."
In August, the owners of general cargo ship Feyza Genç, which in July was reported to have fled Malta after a local court issued an arrest warrant over €45,818 ($50,679.75) in alleged unpaid bunker bills, told Ship & Bunker that the bill had been paid.
The Palmali Group of Companies (Palmali), which has several Malta-based subsidiaries, has issued a strong rejection to allegations its vessels have been involved with alleged oil smuggling activities by the Islamic State (ISIS) and BMZ Group (BMZ), a company owned by the Turkish president's son, Maltese media reports.
"None of our client's vessels are involved in the transportation of illegal products or products covered by sanctions or are otherwise involved in any illegal activity whatsoever," stated Palmali.
The comments come in response to a December 13 article published by the Malta Independent, which suggested that Maltese ships taken over by Palmali from BMZ were involved in ISIS oil trade.
Palmali's legal representation has since said that the ships, which were taken over by Palmali on a bareboat charter basis, have only been used to transport vegetables oils and chemicals.
The vessels in question are MT Mecid Aslanov, MT Begin Aslanova, MT Poet Qabil, MT Armada Breeze, and MT Armada Fair.Palmali asserts that it completes regular due diligence on BMZ and its business activities, and notes that all the vessels in question are Maltese-flagged, and thereby tracked byTransport Malta.
Further, the company asserts that only one of the five ships allegedly involved in the illegal oil transport activities has made one internal voyage within Turkey, during which time was carrying a cargo of sunflower seed oil.
"The article in question is replete with serious allegations about our clients all of which are manifestly unfounded and unsupported by facts," read a Palmali statement.
The Malta Independent said it was simply "reporting the various allegations that are widely available in the Turkish and Russian press, which are readily available online."
In August, the owners of general cargo ship Feyza Genç, which in July was reported to have fled Malta after a local court issued an arrest warrant over €45,818 ($50,679.75) in alleged unpaid bunker bills, told Ship & Bunker that the bill had been paid.