A Libyan-owned tanker laden with gasoline is believed to have been seized by rebels from Hurd Bank, just outside Malta’s territorial waters.

Sources said the ship, the Cartagena, was approached by an unlit Libyan-flagged tug boat at about 1.30 a.m. yesterday. Hurd Bank is located about 22 kilometres east of Valletta.

According to an online report in the Petroleum Economist, an authoritative publication for the energy industry, it was boarded by Libyan rebel forces who sailed it towards Benghazi.

Sources told The Times that the Armed Forces of Malta got to know about the incident after the vessel was on its way and a patrol boat shadowed it until it left Malta’s search and rescue region. At that point it was about 5.45 p.m. and the ship’s location was nearly 200 nautical miles from Malta.

After that, Nato continued tracking the vessel as it approached Libyan shores.

A Nato spokesman said last night that the ship appeared to be cooperating with its forces but he did not confirm the reports that it had been seized.

According to the Petroleum Economist, the Cartagena belongs to General National Maritime Transport, the state-owned shipping firm controlled by Muammar Gaddafi’s son Hannibal. It was carrying nearly 40,000 tonnes of gasoline.

Another online report spoke of the Cartagena having been prevented from bringing home its cargo by Nato, whose line on fuel imports to Libya has been hardening.