Cameroon states that the tanker intercepted by the British military was not authorized to fly its flag
Kyiv • UNN
The tanker Smyrtos was removed from Cameroon's registry in May. Britain intercepted the vessel on suspicion of illegally transporting Russian oil.
Cameroon has distanced itself from the oil tanker Smyrtos, which was intercepted by British forces in the English Channel last weekend on suspicion of transporting Russian oil in circumvention of sanctions. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
Details
Cameroon's Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallé Bibehe, stated that the vessel is not in the country's maritime registry and was removed from it as early as late May.
The vessel Smyrtos, IMO number 9389100, was officially struck off the International Ship Registry of Cameroon on May 26, 2024, becoming the 39th vessel that Cameroon has recently excluded from its list of ships as part of efforts to clean up and protect the Cameroonian flag
Interception of the tanker
On June 14, officers from the UK Royal Marines and the National Crime Agency boarded the Smyrtos and intercepted the vessel.
According to the British side, the tanker was using a fake Cameroonian flag and was suspected of smuggling Russian oil to international markets.
Cameroon tightens control
Reuters also notes that two weeks ago, French authorities, with British support, intercepted another Cameroon-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean, which was allegedly linked to Russia.
Cameroon condemns the fraudulent use of its flag by unauthorized vessels and calls on the international maritime community to take decisive action against such abuses