World Tankers Management, operators of the oil tanker MT Strovolos, said the tanker and its crew were detained by Indonesian authorities on allegations it loaded oil illegally in Cambodia and did not have permission to anchor in Indonesian waters.

“We regret to report that some members of the crew have been detained ashore by the Indonesian authorities and remain so detained whilst the remaining crew are stuck on board the vessel unable to disembark,” the company said in a statement released late on Wednesday.

World Tankers denied allegations that the oil had been loaded illegally and that the ship did not have permission to anchor in Indonesian waters.

MT Strovolos loaded about 300,000 barrels of crude oil in the Apsara field in the Gulf of Thailand on May 21 based on the understanding that the cargo belonged to the charterers, the company said.

However, charterers of the ship defaulted on payment and terminated its service when the vessel had called at Thailand for crew change and refuelling, but was unsuccessful, World Tankers said.

Subsequently, MT Strovolos sailed to Batam, Indonesia, to make a crew change but was detained by local authorities, the company said.

The Apsara field is operated by Singapore-listed KrisEnergy (KRIS.SI) which said on June 4 that it was “unable to pay its debts based on actual and/or contingent liabilities and will proceed to liquidation”.

The Indonesian Navy and KrisEnergy could not be immediately reached for comment.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Michael Perry)