Indian vessel released as U.N. lifts sanctions

It was blacklisted for transporting crude oil illicitly exported from Libya

Indian vessel MT Distya Ameya , which was detained by the United Nations for carrying disputed Libyan oil, has been freed after the U.N. lifted its sanctions on the vessel. This follows the intervention of the Indian government and the Directorate-General (DG) of Shipping.

The tanker, owned by Mumbai-based Arya Shipping, was blacklisted by the U.N. on April 26 when it sailed from the Al-Herega port in Libya after picking up over 6.5 lakh barrels of oil for Malta. It was charged that the vessel violated the sanctions of the U.N. as the interim Government of Libya is not recognised by the global body.

Following the instructions of the DG Shipping, the vessel sailed back to Libya and discharged its entire oil cargo. The U.N. sanctions on the vessel was lifted on Thursday.