A Tuesday report by Mehr News Agency suggests that the Saudi authorities are refusing to permit the Iranian oil tanker “Happiness 1” to leave Jeddah, even though the vessel’s technical problem has been resolved.
Saudi Arabia not only denies an exit permit to the Iranian oil tanker, but also is charging the National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) $200,000 a day for the additional costs of maintenance, the report added.
A technical failure in Happiness 1 forced the oil tanker to berth at the Saudi port of Jeddah on April 30.
The NITC said the technical problem had caused sea water to leak into the ship’s engine room and stall the engine when the vessel was heading towards the Suez Canal in the Red Sea.
All of the 26 crew on board the oil tanker were safe after the incident.
