Explosion wrecks uninsured tanker Pablo off Malaysia

An explosion and fire tore through the Gabon-registered tanker Pablo in the South China Sea off Malaysia, Bloomberg reported on 7 May; 25 of its 28 crew were rescued by passing ships. The 1997-built tanker, able to carry about 700,000 barrels, was nearly empty after offloading a cargo in China. According to the report, data firm Vortexa identifies its recent cargoes as Iranian heavy crude, which is under sanctions. The Pablo is not listed in an industry database of insured vessels, and its owner is a Marshall Islands company with no other ships. Rolf Thore Roppestad, chief executive of Gard, said the shadow fleet poses "a serious threat both to people's lives and to the marine environment".

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