Malaysia Detains Two Ships in Suspected Illegal Oil Transfers

Two vessels have been apprehended by Malaysian authorities due to suspected illicit ship-to-ship oil transfers. The vessels in question, namely the “ARTEMIS III” and the “OCEAN HERMANA,” were identified by the non-profit organization United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI).

UANI publicly revealed that these vessels are the latest instances of illegal Iranian oil trade facilitated by shadow fleets. In addition, UANI released a satellite image taken on October 24th, depicting both ships side by side.

According to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), one of their patrol boats spotted these two vessels around midday on October 24th. The two ships were found approximately 32 nautical miles off the coast of Tanjung Sedili, north of Singapore.

Upon detecting suspicious activities, the patrol boat requested documentation and identification from the two tankers. When the tankers refused to cooperate, the MMEA patrol boat sought assistance from the Air Operations Division of the MMEA. Subsequently, the vessels were boarded by a helicopter for inspection.

The MMEA reported that the captains of the two ships failed to produce any authorization for their activities. Consequently, on the 24th of October at around 6:00 PM local time, the MMEA made the decision to seize both vessels.

The MMEA has also indicated that the crews of these two vessels, comprising 26 individuals from the Artemis III and another 26 from the Ocean Hermana, have been detained. The ships are presently under investigation for engaging in oil transfers without proper authorization and anchoring without permission. In Malaysia, these infractions may result in a fine of $20,900 and imprisonment for up to two years. Additionally, the captains of the two vessels are under investigation for obstructing the MMEA’s investigation, which, if substantiated, could lead to an additional two years of imprisonment and a fine of $2,000.