Wednesday, October 3, 2012

A.P. Moller-Maersk questions Vitol about embargoed Iranian oil shipment

A.P. Moller-Maersk has asked oil trader Vitol if it used a Maersk tanker to ship Iranian fuel oil under sanctions from the West.

Vitol chartered the Maersk Producer in early September, and according to a document seen by Reuters, the Producer received Iranian fuel oil cargo Sept. 8. It was loaded onto the Producer from Vitol's floating storage off Malaysia and then sent to storage in Singapore.

"Not at any point did we know that the vessel would be used to transport oil under embargo and we will bring this up for discussion with Vitol at the highest level," said Per Juul, managing director of the agent for Maersk, to Reuters via email.
"If it is confirmed that it was Iranian oil the consequences will have to be discussed with Vitol...we have contacted our insurance company about this issue."

Vitol's Bahrain office bought the fuel oil, Vitol admitted last week. The company now says it has ordered a halt to trade with Iran. Vitol said it would cooperate fully in talks with Maersk.

For more of the Reuters story: reuters.com

More Newswire stories

Panama Canal expansion approaches halfway point

U.S. cities that send the most exports to China

Rena owners to pay $27.6M settlement

One dies in Seattle fishing boat collision

Today's Cargo News Archives

Click to browse past stories on these topics:

Logistics

Ports & Infrastructure

Economic Outlook

Environmental Impact

Technology