Indonesia to charge oil tanker captain for illegal entry (updated)

KrisEnergy

26/08/2021 05:07

(Adds comments from Indonesia Navy, graphic)
    By Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Florence Tan
    JAKARTA/SINGAPORE, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Indonesia's navy is
preparing to charge the captain of a ship accused of loading oil
illegally in Cambodia and anchoring in Indonesian waters without
permission, according to local authorities and the vessel owner.
    Bahamas-flagged tanker MT Strovolos was stopped in waters
near the Anambas islands of Indonesia on July 27, the Indonesian
Navy said in a statement. The stop followed a red notice issued
by the Cambodian embassy on July 24 that asked Indonesian
authorities to make an arrest on suspicion of stealing around
300,000 barrels of Cambodian crude, the Navy said.
    The vessel was taken to Batam for quarantine on July 30.
    The captain of the ship, a Bangladeshi, has been named a
suspect for anchoring without permission in Indonesian
territorial waters, the Navy said, adding that it was working
with local prosecutors on the case.
    World Tankers Management, operators of MT Strovolos,
confirmed the detention of the tanker and crew members.
    "We regret to report that some members of the crew have been
detained ashore by the Indonesian authorities and remain so
detained whilst the remaining crew are stuck on board the vessel
unable to disembark," the company said in a statement released
late on Wednesday.
    World Tankers denied allegations that the oil had been
loaded illegally and that the ship did not have permission to
anchor in Indonesian waters.
    MT Strovolos loaded about 300,000 barrels of crude oil in
the Apsara field in the Gulf of Thailand on May 21 based on the
understanding that the cargo belonged to charterer Kris Energy
(Apsara) Company Ltd, the company said.
    However, the charterer defaulted on payment and terminated
its service when the vessel had called at Thailand for crew
change and refuelling, but was unsuccessful, World Tankers said.
    Subsequently, MT Strovolos sailed to Batam, Indonesia, to
make a crew change but was detained by local authorities, the
company said.
    The Apsara field is operated by Singapore-listed KrisEnergy
(KRIS.SI) which said on June 4 that it was "unable to pay its
debts based on actual and/or contingent liabilities and will
proceed to liquidation".  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2NS1L2
    KrisEnergy has a 95% stake in the field while the Cambodian
government holds the remaining 5%.
    Cambodian authorities could not be immediately reached for
comment. Thai Navy, KrisEnergy and its liquidator did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.

    <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Track of the MT Strovolos since May 21, 2021    https://tmsnrt.rs/3sLhOC6
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 (Reporting by Florence Tan and Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore,
Agustinus Beo Da Costa in Jakarta, Prak Chan Thul in Phnom Penh
and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok; Editing by Michael Perry and
Gerry Doyle)
 ((Florence.Tan@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging:
florence.tan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))