Chemical tanker GULF PETROLEUM 4 suffered an explosion in the engine room on Mar 22, off Libyan coast, Mediterranean, reports Maritime Bulletin.
What happened?
Chemical tanker GULF PETROLEUM 4 suffered an explosion in the engine room at around 1630 UTC Mar 22 in vicinity 32 00N 015 55E, off Libyan coast, Mediterranean.
- The number of crew injured and in need of medical assistance remained unknown.
- Tanker was reported disabled, drifting and was engaged in operations in Gulf of Sidra since Mar 16 after leaving Benghazi Libya.
Carried cargo of jet oil?
Tanker arrived at Benghazi on Mar 13 from UAE, allegedly with cargo of jet oil for Libyan National Army (LNA), adversary of Libyan Government of National Accord LGNA.
AIS radars went off
Tanker left Benghazi on Mar 16 and went off AIS radars on Mar 18, being in Gulf of Sidra. The tanker reappeared on Mar 22 and issued distress signals.
Tanker was seized?
LGNA said in a statement, that the tanker was seized by LGNA in the evening Mar 22 and taken to LGNA-controlled port for investigation.
- As of morning Mar 23, the tanker was already in Misrata waters.
- Not clear what happened.
About the tanker
Chemical tanker GULF PETROLEUM 4, IMO 9439345, dwt 13000, built 2009, flag Liberia, manager GULF SHIPPING SERVICES FZC, UAE.
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Source: Maritime Bulletin
