A BP suezmax is being kept away from the Strait of Hormuz because of fears of a seizure by Iran, a report has claimed.
Bloomberg cited a source familiar with the matter as saying the oil major is concerned that the 158,000-dwt British Heritage (built 2017) could be detained by Iran in a tit-for-tat row over UK territory Gibraltar's arrest of a VLCC last week.
The 301,000-dwt Grace 1 (built 1997) was alleged to have been heading for Syria with Iranian crude, in breach of EU sanctions. It was boarded by British marines.
AIS data shows British Heritage awaiting orders off Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
BP told TradeWinds it does not comment on the movements or security details of its assets.
Basrah loading "cancelled"
Bloomberg claimed the BP ship was heading to load crude at Iraq’s Basrah oil terminal when it turned around on 6 July.
The UK-flagged tanker had been chartered by Shell to carry the oil to north-west Europe, brokers said.
The fixture has been cancelled, the report added.
On Friday, Iran threatened to hold a UK vessel as a result of the Gibraltar incident.
Tanker markets were spooked over the weekend when reports emerged that a UK-flagged VLCC may have been targeted by Iranian forces.
Initial reports said the MOL-owned 302,000-dwt Pacific Voyager (built 2009) had “come to a halt” in the Middle East Gulf.
However, a United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) official later told Reuters that the tanker was “safe and well”.
