Supreme Court grants extension on tanker detention

Gibraltar's Supreme Court has granted a 14-day extension for authorities in Gibraltar to detain the supertanker Grace 1, which is suspected of breaching EU sanctions by shipping Iranian light crude oil to war-ravaged Syria.

Attorney General Michael Llamas, QC, told the Chronicle that the court has granted an extension to July 19 under Gibraltar's sanctions legislation.

The application for the extension was made on Friday afternoon during a hearing 'in camera' in the Supreme Court.

It was heard and granted by Gibraltar's Chief Justice, Anthony Dudley.

The supertanker Grace 1 remains anchored off the East Side of the Rock, where officers of the Royal Gibraltar Police and HM Customs (Gibraltar) continue their investigations.

The vessel's 28-man crew – who are mostly of Indian nationality but also include Pakistani and Ukranian nationals - are being interviewed as witnesses, according to the Gibraltar Government.

A detachment of British Royal Marines from 42 Commando boarded the vessel on Thursday in a joint operation with the RGP and other Gibraltar law enforcement agencies.

The marines abseiled onto the ship after it entered British waters off Gibraltar Thursday to pick up food supplies and seized it over accusations it was breaking sanctions by taking oil to Syria.

MAIN PHOTO: David Parody