New details emerge about Iranian tankers seized by India
What's the story
The Indian Coast Guard seized three oil tankers, suspected of being involved in Iran's sanctioned oil trade, in an operation carried out on February 5, around 100 nautical miles off Mumbai. The Mali-flagged MT Asphalt Star had gone "dark" on January 28, disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), VHF radio, and other sensors for nearly 11 hours while in Pakistan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Investigation details
Vessel was in Pakistan's EEZ from January 20-28
The vessel was in Pakistan's EEZ from January 20-28. Coast Guard officials say such deliberate shutdowns are typical of illegal maritime activities, enabling ships to hide their identity and movements. The MT Asphalt Star was first spotted on February 4 in a "hot lay-up" position in the Arabian Sea. When contacted, it repeatedly changed its reported identity and destination.
Deception uncovered
Tanker sent false voyage data through AIS, VHF
The crew of the MT Asphalt Star initially claimed they were headed to Mangaluru in Karnataka. However, further investigations revealed that the tanker was sending false voyage data through AIS and VHF. It only had a temporary registration certificate issued in Bamako, Mali, on January 30, and did not have the required Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance for international shipping.
Smuggling charges
MT Asphalt Star part of coordinated operation with sister vessels
Authorities believe the MT Asphalt Star was part of a coordinated operation with two sister vessels, MT Al Jafzia and MT Stellar Ruby. These ships were allegedly conducting unauthorized ship-to-ship transfers inside India's Exclusive Economic Zone. Around 30 metric tons of heavy fuel oil were transferred to the MT Al Jafzia, while 5,473 metric tons of VG-40 bitumen were offloaded to the MT Stellar Ruby.
Legal proceedings
FIR lodged against accused individuals
An FIR has been lodged at Mumbai's Yellow Gate Police Station, naming nine accused individuals. They include crew members, masters, and engineers from the three vessels, as well as representatives of Star Shipping Management. The accused face charges of criminal conspiracy, smuggling, document forgery, and violations of customs, shipping, IT, and petroleum laws.
Network uncovered
Western intelligence agencies linked vessels to Iranian oil network
Western intelligence agencies have linked these vessels to an Iranian oil network that often changes names, flags, and ownership structures to avoid international sanctions. However, Iran's National Iranian Oil Company has denied any links with the ships. The three tankers are still anchored off the Mumbai coast under Coast Guard surveillance as multi-agency investigations continue into their operations.