Libya has secured an initial legal victory in Bulgaria after the Bulgarian Supreme Court issued a preliminary ruling in favour of Libya in a long-running dispute over the ownership of the oil tanker Badr. The vessel has been detained at the port of Burgas since 2017 and is owned by Libya’s General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC).
According to the ruling, the court ordered the return of the tanker to its lawful owner, GNMTC, confirming Libya’s ownership rights over the vessel. While the judgment remains subject to appeal under Bulgarian law, it represents a significant step towards resolving the case after years of legal uncertainty.
The Badr tanker has been held at Burgas port for more than seven years, following legal claims related to its ownership and operational status. Throughout this period, the case has been closely followed by Libyan officials and maritime authorities, given the financial and strategic importance of the vessel to Libya’s national maritime fleet.
The preliminary ruling strengthens Libya’s legal position and may pave the way for the eventual release of the tanker, pending the outcome of any appeals. Legal experts note that such rulings often influence higher judicial decisions, especially when ownership documentation and contractual obligations are clearly established.
For Libya, the decision is viewed as a positive development in efforts to recover state-owned assets held abroad as a result of prolonged legal disputes and political instability over the past decade. The General National Maritime Transport Company has faced multiple challenges in protecting its fleet during this period, including detentions, legal claims, and operational disruptions.
Although the ruling is not yet final, Libyan observers see it as an important milestone towards closing a complex case that has dragged on since 2017. Any appeal process is expected to focus on procedural issues rather than the core question of ownership, which the court has already addressed.
