U.S. Navy Intercepts Tanker Carrying Distillate from Iraq to Iran

Investigators probing a tanker intercepted in the Persian Gulf last week believe it was carrying distillate from Iraq to Iran, shipping sources said. The 29,687-ton Katerina P was carrying approximately 123,500 barrels (bbl) of distillate when it was intercepted and boarded by the U.S. Navy force enforcing U.N. sanctions. The vessel, flagged to Liberia, had been involved in boycott-busting for an unspecified time, shuttling between Iraq and Iran with distillate from Iraq and residual oil from Iran. The captain of the tanker denied any involvement in sanctions violations, but crew members confirmed the vessel's visits to Iraq.

Key Takeaways:

• The tanker Katerina P, with a tonnage of 29,687 tons, was intercepted in the Persian Gulf by the U.S. Navy last week.
• The vessel was carrying approximately 123,500 barrels (bbl) of distillate when intercepted, with suspected origins in Iraq's Khor al-Zubayr.
• The U.S. Navy's boarding was in line with operations to enforce U.N. sanctions against Iraq.
• The Katerina P had been allegedly involved in boycott-busting for an unspecified period, shuttling between Iraq and Iran with distillate from Iraq and residual oil from Iran.
• The tanker's captain denied any involvement in sanctions violations, whereas crew members confirmed the vessel's visits to Iraq.
• The incident marks the first known interception of an oil cargo that Iraq is suspected of exporting illegally in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

Statistics:

• The Katerina P has a tonnage of 29,687 tons.
• The tanker was carrying approximately 123,500 barrels (bbl) of distillate when intercepted.
• The suspected oil origins are from Khor al-Zubayr, Iraq.

Sources:

• "We have no comment on the operation," a U.S. military spokeswoman said (no date provided)
• Shipping sources (no date provided)