According to media reports, Indonesia's coast guard has intercepted and seized the MT Arman 114, a supertanker flying the Iranian flag. The vessel is suspected of being involved in unauthorized crude oil transfers, leading to its apprehension by Indonesian authorities.

Last week, Indonesian authorities seized the MT Arman 114, a vessel carrying an estimated 272,569 metric tons of light crude oil valued at $304 million. The supertanker was apprehended in the North Natuna Sea after the Indonesian maritime security agency uncovered evidence of an unauthorized ship-to-ship oil transfer. The transfer occurred with the MT S Tinos, which sails under the flag of Cameroon.

Investigations revealed that Arman had engaged in deceptive practices, including falsifying its location using an automatic identification system (AIS). The vessel misrepresented its position, indicating it was in the Red Sea while it was operating within Indonesian waters. Additionally, the supertanker was found to have discharged oil into the ocean, constituting a violation of Indonesia's environmental regulations.

Indonesian authorities not only detained the MT Arman and its Egyptian captain but also apprehended all 28 crew members and three passengers, who happened to be relatives of a security officer onboard. Both the supertanker and the MT S Tinos attempted to evade capture, leading Indonesian authorities, with the assistance of Malaysia, to pursue the vessels into Malaysian waters.

Aan Kurnia, the chief of the Indonesian maritime agency, highlighted that the MT S Tinos was supposed to have been decommissioned in 2018, whereas the MT Arman was constructed back in 1997.

Media reports reference shipping databases that indicate the MT Arman, previously known as the Grace 1, had gained notoriety in 2019 when it was seized by British Royal Marine commandos. At that time, it was accused of attempting to transport oil to Syria, thereby violating EU sanctions. Following a diplomatic dispute with Western nations, the vessel was eventually released a month later.

A recent analysis by Reuters has shed light on a clandestine network of tankers operating in the Singapore Strait, engaged in the illicit transfer of oil from sanctioned countries such as Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. This unauthorized trade poses significant risks, including the potential for oil spills and accidents, particularly with the involvement of numerous uninsured vessels.

In response to these mounting concerns, Indonesia's coast guard, in collaboration with other relevant authorities, has made a commitment to strengthen maritime patrols within its territorial waters. As an archipelago comprising around 17,000 islands, Indonesia is taking a firm and determined stance to prevent such incidents from recurring.

In similar cases this year, Indonesia has previously seized vessels flying Iranian and Panamanian flags on comparable charges. The captains of those ships were subsequently placed on two years' probation following legal proceedings in an Indonesian court.

Image source: Reuters