North Korean tankers busy ahead of celebrations

NK News ^ | September 30th, 2015 | Leo Byrne

[TigerLikesRooster]

North Korean tankers busy ahead of celebrations

NK News vessel tracker shows nearly every DPRK oil tanker delivering to North Korean ports

September 30th, 2015

Leo Byrne

North Korea’s oil tanker fleet is especially busy ahead of next month’s anniversary of the founding of the Worker’s Party of Korea, with numerous vessels repurposed to Chinese waters from Russia, the NK News vessel tracker and data from Marine Traffic shows.

Intermittent AIS tracking coverage around the Korean Peninsula often makes it difficult to see up-to-date positional information for the entire oil fleet simultaneously. However nearly every DPRK oil tanker broadcast its position this week, with queues forming at commonly used loading and offloading terminals.

The upcoming celebrations may help account for the tanker activity. North Korea is currently preparing for the 70th anniversary of the party, which will likely feature large-scale military parades, and the completion of numerous building projects across the country.

“There’s a possibility that it should be needed because economic activities are now ongoing in a lot of areas,” Lee Seog-ki, senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade told NK News.

North Korea’s Nampho terminal this week. Image: Marine Traffic

Five North Korean tankers currently at Vladivostok. Image: Marine Traffic

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[Gamecock]

**North Korea is currently preparing for the 70th anniversary of the party, which will likely feature large-scale military parades**

Gee, you think so?!? </snark>

[Gamecock]

The remaining ship – the Ocean Lucky – is flagged to Mongolia. North Korea’s tankers which are registered in other countries follow different routes to those sailing under DPRK flags. The Ocean Lucky’s flag allows it to sail very close to the South Korean coastline.

I'm sure that is just a coincidence!

[IYAS9YAS]

Too bad we can’t see the draft of these tankers before and after port calls. Then we’d know if it was for show, or go.

[Gamecock]

Wait a minute! Ships registered in Mongolia??

Mongolian-flagged cargo ship with North Korean crew sinks off South Korea.

[SevenofNine]

Only time I been to that site duing Deadliest catch season in October and January LOL!