Greek-Registered Tanker In Beira

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 17

Greek-Registered Tanker In Beira

(X Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) SALISBURY, April 5. The Greek-registered oil tanker Joanna V arrived at Beira—the oil terminal for Rhodesia—at dawn today. The tanker crossed the bar outside the Portuguese East African port after high tide this morning and anchored two miles from the docks awaiting clearance to enter a berth.

According to the South African Press Association the Joanna V was waiting at anchor for the arrival of another vessel equipped with connexions to the terminal’s pipeline and storage tanks.

This indicated she was preparing to discharge her oil cargo, although no official confirmation could be obtained.

The tanker was intercepted by the British frigate Plymouth last night on the high seas off Mozambique.

But the Greek master refused to comply with a reque-" 1 - that he turn away from the port.

An officer from the British frigate went on board the tanker.

The captain told him that the 12,000-ton Joanna V was putting into Beira only for bunkering and provisions. He claimed that the' crude oil cargo was bound for Djibouti, in French Somaliland. Then the tanker sailed on. Strict orders from London barring the use of force left the Plymouth powerless to stop her. F.O. Statement Diplomatic observers in London predicted far-reaching consequences from the incident. A Foreign Office spokesman said that, in spite of the assurances of the master, the tanker unloaded oil at Beira “a most serious situation would arise and a heavy responsibility would rest on the Portuguese Government.” The Joanna V had been cruising slowly in the Mozambique channel since last Friday. According to the Foreign Office announcement the Plymouth acted outside the six-mile limit of territorial waters when the tanker was clearly heading for Beira. It is believed that the tanker stopped in response to a visual signal.

Ship Boarded A British officer went on board with the master’s consent, told the master he was acting with the knowledge of the Greek Government and in conformity with a United Nations Security Council resolution and demanded that the Joanna V should not put in to Beira. The arrival of the Joanna V finally came as a surprise in Beira, where there have been constant rumours of the impending arrival of tankers with oil for Rhodesia since the last tanker called just before the British embargo was imposed. Earlier this morning the British consul in Beira, Mr John Taylor, said he had no knowledge of the Joanna V or any other tanker being due at the port. There is no confirmation that the Joanna V is carrying oil for Rhodesia —which has been fighting a British oil embargo since December 17. Greek Talks

Britain had had close consultation about the voyage of the Joanna V with Greece, which last March banned any Greek-registered ship from carrying oil for Rhodesia. Though Greek-registered, the Joanna V is now reported to be owned by a Panamanian company. The Greek Government an-

nounced today that sanctions provided by a royal decree which bans all oil shipments by Greek ships to Rhodesia will be taken against Joanna V. A government spokesman in Athens, commenting on reports that the tanker has already arrived at Beira, said the Greek government will wait to see whether the ship unloads its oil cargo there. “When the unloading begins then we shall apply against her all sanctions provided by the royal decree which banned such shipments. “In addition, disciplinary action will be taken against the master of the ship,” the spokesman said. The law provides for a fine and a prison term of six months against the owner of the ship, the spokesman explained. The spokesman said the fact that the ship called at Beira does not itself constitute a violation of the decree, which imposed a ban on oil

shipments destined for Rhodesia and not a blockade on the port of Beira. Under her previous name of Arietta Venizelos. the tanker loaded the oil in the Persian Gulf early this year and sailed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, apparently heading for Rotterdam.

Instead she turned south out of the Mediterranean for Dakar and by that time had been sold to a Panamanian corporation controlled by Greek shipping men. She remained under longterm charter to the South African firm of A. G. Morrison, of Cape Town. From Dakar the tanker headed toward the Cape of Good Hope, at which point the Greek Ministry of Merchant Marine sent a message to the master warning him of his government’s ban on the transport of oil to Rhodesia by Greek vessels.

The tanker rounded South Africa and headed north.