Super Tanker Grace 1. IMAGE: Tony Hogwood/MarineTraffic.com
A detachment of Royal Marines and the authorities in Gibraltar have seized a supertanker suspected of carrying oil to Syria on the belief it was breaching EU sanctions. 30 Royal Marines from 42 Commando were involved.
Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo said:
“We have reason to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas Refinery in Syria.”
“That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria.”
According to reports, the tanker had sailed from Iran. If the oil on board is confirmed to be Iranian, the tanker would also be violating a US ban on Iranian oil exports.
