Transport Malta is investigating an alleged shooting incident involving a Maltese-registered ship off the coast of Libya on Sunday.

The ship was reportedly shot at by the Libyan navy when it was in international waters as it headed towards the separatist-controlled oil port of Es-Sider.

The Transport Ministry said yesterday that it had been in continuous contact with the ship’s owners and the Libyan authorities since Sunday evening, when the events started to develop.

“Malta, as the flag State of the ship, made immediate representations with the Libyan government and it was only after its intervention that the ship sailed to outside Maltese territorial waters.

“The safety of the crew and the ship was of utmost priority throughout the events,” the statement said.

Reuters had quoted officials from the Libyan national oil company saying the ship was attempting to illegally dock at Es-Sider, from where eastern separatists are threatening to export oil in defiance of the central government in Tripoli.

Libyans in the east are demanding more autonomy and a greater share of oil revenues and have blocked ports from where oil is exported.

“The Maltese authorities are informed that the Malta-registered vessel was always in international waters and there was never any attempt to call at the port of Es-Sider without prior authorisation,” the ministry said.