EMEA News
Intertanko Warns Caution On Lifting of Nigeria Tanker Ban
Despite earlier reports that Nigeria had lifted a ban on around 100 tankers from operating in its territorial waters, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) is recommending caution for any tanker owners and operators intending to proceed with trade to the country, the organization announced last week.
Ship & Bunker reported last week that state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC) had lifted its two-month ban after issuing a statement that reportedly assured that the president had "graciously approved the consideration of all incoming vessels into the Nigerian territorial waters subject to receipt of a Letter of Comfort from all terminal operators and off-takers of Nigerian Oil and Gas as guarantee that nominated ships are free and will not be utilised for any illegal activity whatsoever.”
However, INTERTANKO said that the language was vague and could not be relied upon for owners who have ships on the list of banned vessels.
“We continue to advise members who have ships on the banned list to exercise extreme caution with their whole fleet," it said.
"Any member who decides to trade to Nigeria should follow the practical advice we have given and make use of the INTERTANKO Nigeria Trade Clause in their fixtures."
The organization added that Nigeria's penalties for alleged contraventions is particularly harsh, and can include forfeiture of ships and life imprisonment of the crew.
“We will endeavour to clarify this point with NNPC but in the meantime we believe that there is currently no mechanism whereby a ship can be removed from the list of banned ships or whereby an assurance can be given, eg for a ship in the same ownership."
"Unless and until the ban is actually lifted, we continue to strongly advise that any vessel on the list of banned ships should not trade Nigeria or sail into Nigeria’s EEZ (exclusive economic zone).
"Nigeria should also be excluded from trading limits.”
As recent as September 9, 2015, it was reported that Nigerian maritime lawyers had said there was little chance of the ban being lifted.
