UN Tribunal Orders Equatorial Guinea to Pay $14M for Illegal Seizure of Oil Tanker
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has ruled that Equatorial Guinea must pay over $14 million in compensation for the unlawful seizure of the crude oil tanker Heroic Idun in 2022. The tribunal found that Equatorial Guinea violated several principles of the Convention of the Seas and the right to free navigation when it intercepted the tanker and detained its crew. The incident began when the tanker, waiting to load crude oil at a Nigerian offshore platform, was approached by a boat claiming to be the Nigerian Navy. Fearing piracy, the crew attempted to flee, leading to their interception by Equatorial Guinea's navy. The crew was detained for over three months before being handed over to Nigeria. The tribunal's decision includes compensation for the crew's detention, medical costs, and other expenses incurred during the incident. 
