Iranian ships are prevented from receiving fuel because they are on an American list and have been anchored for a month in Paranaguá
Two Iranian-flagged ships are anchored 20 kilometers from the Port of Paranaguá (PR) without the possibility of fulfilling the freight for which they were contracted, due to lack of fuel.
Petrobras claims that as the vessels are on the OFAC (United States foreign asset control office) list.
No further details were provided by Petrobras, as the process is under judicial secrecy. Petrobras is the main manufacturer in Brazil of HFO 380 fuel, used in ships.
The exporting company from Santa Catarina, which chartered the ships MV Bavand and MV Termeh, declares that it requested the fuel, but Petrobras refused to supply it.
The MV Bavand vessel has been awaiting the supply of fuel since June 8th and is already loaded with 48,4 thousand tons of corn, estimated at R$ 45,5 million.
The MV Termeh has been waiting for fuel since June 9th so that it can continue its journey to the Port of Imbituba (SC) and load approximately 60 tons of corn in bulk, worth approximately R$ 60 million.
Both vessels are licensed to carry out the export operation and are bound for Porto Bandar Imam Khomeini, in the Persian Gulf.
Although fuel was requested by Sapid Shipping, which owns the ships, from two shipping agents (1.200 tonnes of HFO 380 fuel for the MV Bavand vessel and 500t for the MVTermeh vessel), the request was refused.
The owner was also warned by one of these maritime agencies that the risk of running out of fuel would entail a series of problems, such as with the crew, with the environment, with navigation around the vessels, not to mention the US costs. $15 only with demurrage and extra fares per charter day.
Another very serious problem to be taken into account would be the cargo, which can be condemned and refused in the country of destination, if this situation lasts longer.
the imbroglio
In October 2018, the International Court of Justice ruled that the United States must remove all embargoes on the export of food and agricultural commodities to Iran.
An injunction was then granted by the judge reporting the case at the 2nd civil court of the Court of Justice of Paraná (TJ-PR), on the last 4th of July, which obliged Transpetro to urgently supply IFO 380 fuel in sufficient quantity so that the two ships could at least return to Iran.
However, Minister Dias Toffoli, president of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), revoked the injunction after an appeal requested by Petrobras. As the decision is preliminary, it is still possible to appeal to the collegiate of the supreme court.
In the injunction that was overturned, the judge of the TJ-PR, Fernando Paulino da Silva Wolff Filho, had established a period of 72 running hours from the decision to provide the supply of fuel, under penalty of a daily fine of R$ 50 thousand, limited its incidence to 10 days (R$ 500 thousand)
The judge understood that, even if there were other companies capable of meeting the exporter's demand, Transpetro (a subsidiary of Petrobras) could not refuse to supply the fuel.
While the impasse continues, the parties are still waiting for an outcome, neither Petrobras nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wanted to comment on the case.
Source: Ports and Ships
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