Malaysia Frees Ships It Says Conducted Unlicensed Oil Transfer

Malaysia released two aging tankers it detained for conducting a ship-to-ship transfer of oil without permission on a bond, following a request from a representative for the vessels, according to maritime authorities.

The supertanker Nora was transferring crude oil to Rcelebra at the time of the arrest, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said in a statement Tuesday. They were detained by the group’s Penang unit for conducting a cargo transfer without permission and anchoring in a non-anchorage area, it added.