North Korean-flagged oil tanker that loaded an illegal shipment of oil from Sidra port has been intercepted after it set sail and headed for international waters.Spokesperson for the General National Congress (GNC) Omar Hemidan confirmed to the Libya Herald that the tanker, named Morning Glory, had been intercepted and was now being escorted to Misrata port. Other reports, however, say it is going to take the oil to Zawia to unload it at the refinery there.
A shipping source said the tanker set sail with members of federalist groups operating under Ibrahim Jadhran on board. Morning Glory successfully sailed a few miles away from the coast before there was an exchange of fire with Libyan vessels.
After the exchange of fire, the captain stopped the tanker, the source said. It is not yet known whether there were any injuries or whether any vessels were damaged.
It is also not clear which Libyan boats were involved in the operation. Vessels under the control of the Navy, as well as fishing boats from Misrata armed with heavy weaponry, were apparently moored off Sidra port waiting for the tanker to attempt to set sail.