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PressTV - Chinese tanker takes in 2 million barrels of crude at Iranian terminal
A Chinese supertanker with the capacity to carry two million barrels of crude has docked and embarked at an Iranian port, the first such move since the European Union imposed sanctions on Iran's oil in July.
A Chinese supertanker with the capacity to carry two million barrels of crude has docked and embarked at an Iranian port, the first such move since the European Union imposed sanctions on Iran's oil in July.
Over the past six months, China has depended on National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) for the delivery of Iran's crude oil to its refineries.
Official figures show that China imported nearly 410,000 barrels of crude from Iran in January and February this year, up two percent from a year ago.
"As far as I can see, this is the first confirmed visit to an Iranian port by a Chinese-owned crude oil carrier since the ban," said Richard Hurley, senior maritime data specialist at IHS Fairplay.
The ship has been insured by Skuld, a company based in Oslo, for protection and indemnity risks, according to the insurer. The company said its cover for any vessel would terminate if it had to face sanctions due to EU laws regarding Iran's oil. However, Skuld did not verify if its cover for the Chinese oil carrier has been excluded.
"We insure ships on a yearly basis and do not usually know what particular activity a ship is engaged in at any one time," Skuld said in its statement. "In general we only become aware of a particular ship's location and cargo if there is an incident giving rise to a claim. An owner is not obliged to inform Skuld about the trade he is conducting with the vessel."