The process of pumping oil from the Greek tanker “Ice Energy” to the tanker “Lana” under the Iranian flag began today on Thursday.

When the transfer process is completed, an order is expected to be given for the release of two Greek-owned tankers detained in retaliation by Iranian authorities in the Persian Gulf. It is expected that 56,000 tons of crude oil will be taken from the Ice Energy tanker and delivered to the Lana vessel, which, after the completion of the process, will go to its destination.

According to the administration of the central port of Piraeus, while the process is ongoing, it has been decided to prohibit anchoring and passage of ships within one nautical mile around the point.

The Iranian-flagged Lana was carrying 104,000 tons of Iranian oil and was towed to Karistos last April due to a mechanical problem.

The ship was detained by Greek authorities off Karystos after a request for legal assistance from the US Department of Justice on the grounds that it had been loaded by Iran in violation of the US embargo on Tehran.

The Times Navigation shipping company of shipowner Yannis Karageorgis applied on June 17 to the Areopagus with a request to annul the decision of the Evia Board of Appeal, which rejected the US request to freeze Iranian oil transported in its tanks by the ship. “Lana”. The case was heard on June 19, and on Tuesday (June 21), the Supreme Court accepted the prosecutor’s proposal and rejected the Times Navigation appeal.

The decision of the Evia Board of Appeal, which denied the US request for relief and ordered the oil to be pumped back into the Lana’s tanks from the Ice Energy vessel, chartered on behalf of the US by Times Navigation, therefore stood by Giannis Karageorgis.