We were recently involved in an incident along the Libyan coast where one of our insured vessels was ordered by the Libyan coastguard to proceed to the anchorage at Benghazi. All identity documents and seamans books were confiscated. Initially, the reason for this action was unclear.
With the assistance of our local correspondent, it became evident that the vessel had been detained because she had sailed through an area under the control of the Libyan Naval Coast Guard. This area is under strict surveillance to prevent illegal trade and migration and may only be transited with prior notification and approval from the authorities. We include a map of the relevant area, including its coordinates.
Upon arrival at the anchorage, it quickly became apparent that a fine had to be paid for the vessel to be released and for the return of the confiscated documents. Due to the swift and decisive action of our correspondent, the delay to the vessel was limited to just a few hours.
Advice to members
We advise our members to alert their vessels accordingly and, where possible, to navigate well outside this area or to seek prior permission before transiting through it. Ensure that all relevant parties – especially the Master – are aware of the location and associated risks of this region.
We will keep our members informed of any developments in this area. Should you require advice or assistance in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact the NNPC claims team at claims@nnpc.nl.
