In this photo taken on Jan 24, 2021, Panamanian-flagged MT Frea (left) and Iranian-flagged MT Horse tankers are seen anchored together in Pontianak waters off Borneo island, Indonesia. (PHOTO / AP)
Indonesia released on Friday an Iranian-flagged vessel it had seized four months ago over suspected illegal transfer of crude oil, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
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MT Horse “was released after 125 days…and will return to Iranian waters after completing its mission,” IRNA reported, citing a National Iranian Oil Co statement, without providing further details.
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In late January, Indonesian authorities apprehended MT Horse and the Panamanian-flagged MT Freya for carrying out a ship-to-ship transfer of oil, shutting off identification systems and spilling oil, according to Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency. Iran had blamed “technical issues” for the seizure of the tanker.