Libya Refuses Loading Oil Tanker due to Prior Entry to Israel: Bloomberg

Libya refused entry to an oil tanker that was due to load a cargo from one of its ports, after the ship made a previous trip to Israel.

The Proteus Philippa arrived near Meleta in western Libya two days ago, according to tanker tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The ship was to carry 600,000 barrels of crude, but was asked to leave because it had previously transported oil to Haifa in Israel.

A company official, who asked not to be identified, said Mellitah Oil and Gas, which operates the terminal, did not allow the tanker to enter the port and loading after confirming that it was previously in the Israeli port of Haifa, and asked it to leave. Which was confirmed by two other people with knowledge of the matter. 

The Porteus Phillippa tanker was loaded with crude from Gabon from September 8 to 10, and then pointed its destination to Haifa on September 25 upon its arrival in the Mediterranean Sea. The tanker turned off the transceiver on Oct. 1 as it approached Israel. On October 6, the transceiver returned to work again, with the submersible falling to 8.5 metres from 14 metres previously, indicating that the load was empty.