The Yemeni Coast Guard Authority announced that one of its patrols had intercepted a tanker that was subject to sanctions in the Gulf of Aden, escorting it to Aden Port for investigation.

On Sunday, the Yemeni Coast Guard Authority announced that it had intercepted a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that had unloaded its cargo at Ras Isa port in Hudaidah without government authorisation. The port is under the control of the Houthi group.

An oil tanker, which was listed on sanctions lists

According to the official Saba News Agency, a source within the authority stated that an oil tanker, which was listed on sanctions lists, had entered the Ras Isa port and offloaded its shipment without coordinating with the relevant authorities via the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM), as per established procedures.

Switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) 

The Coast Guard revealed that the tanker NEREIDA (IMO 9163269), a vessel subject to US sanctions, had switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) for parts of its journey. After leaving the Ras Isa port and heading towards Bab al-Mandab, its signal temporarily appeared south of Hodeidah.

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The tanker was intercepted by a patrol in the Gulf of Aden.

The authority stated that a patrol had intercepted the tanker in the Gulf of Aden and escorted it to the Port of Aden. They confirmed that an investigation had been initiated into the voyage path, cargo, and ship documents, as well as the circumstances surrounding the tanker's entry into Ras Isa

About: UNVIM

UNVIM is responsible for handling the clearance and inspection procedures of commercial vessels heading to Yemeni Red Sea ports that are outside of government control. While clearances for Ras Isa were suspended by the Yemeni government in June 2017, the mechanism currently issues clearances for Hodeidah and Saleef.

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About: The NEREIDA

The NEREIDA, a 35,994 dwt chemical/product tanker measuring 175 metres, was built in 1998. The vessel is subject to US sanctions under IMO number 9163269, and appears on the US sanctions list under its former name, Peter Paul

Source: Agencies. 

#The NEREIDA #UNVIM #Yemeni Coast Guard #Sanaction # Ras Isa port #Hodeidah #Houthi group #Gulf of Aden