The tanker arrived at Benghazi on Mar 13 from UAE, allegedly with a cargo of jet oil for the Libyan National Army (LNA), the adversary of the Libyan Government of National Accord LGNA. The tanker left Benghazi on Mar 16, went off AIS radars on Mar 18, being in the Gulf of Sidra, and reappeared on Mar 22, issuing a distress signal. LGNA in its’ statement said that tanker was seized by LGNA in the evening of Mar 22, to be taken to an LGNA-controlled port for investigation. As of morning Mar 23, a tanker was already in Misrata waters. Not clear what happened, and whether there was an explosion or not.
Mar 22: Chemical tanker GULF PETROLEUM 4 suffered an explosion in the engine room at around 1630 UTC Mar 22 in vicinity 32 00N 015 55E, off the Libyan coast, Mediterranean. An unknown number of crew injured, understood in need of medical assistance. Tanker understood to be disabled, drifting. She was engaged in operations in the Gulf of Sidra since Mar 16 after leaving Benghazi Libya.
Chemical tanker GULF PETROLEUM 4, IMO 9439345, dwt 13000, built 2009, flag Liberia, manager GULF SHIPPING SERVICES FZC, UAE.
