Royal Marines seize Syria-bound oil tanker in Gibraltar

An oil tanker thought to be carrying Iranian oil to Syria has been detained by Royal Marines in Gibraltar.

The Government of Gibraltar said it had reason to believe the vessel, called Grace 1, was carrying crude to the Baniyas Refinery in breach of EU sanctions.

The Panama-flagged vessel was detained this morning by port authorities with the assistance of a team of Royal Marines.

Chief minister of government, Fabio Picardo, said: “I want to thank the brave men and women of the Royal Marines, the Royal Gibraltar Police, Her Majesty’s Customs Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Port Authority, for their work in securing the detention of this vessel and its cargo.

“Be assured that Gibraltar remains safe, secure and committed to the international, rules-based, legal order.”

Statement on the detention of the Super Tanker "Grace 1". pic.twitter.com/bzD9WMR6nH

— Fabian Picardo (@FabianPicardo) July 4, 2019

Syria has been subject to EU sanctions since President Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protestors in 2011.

The Bayinas refinery is owned by Syria’s ministry of petroleum.