The VLCC at the centre of a legal battle over an alleged plot to illegally load oil has been remotely disabled to stop it from being taken to Nigeria under its own power.

The 300,000-dwt Heroic Idun (built 2020) remains off the island of Bioko, in Equatorial Guinea, while its owner, insurer and other shipping bodies seek to prevent the tanker and its 26-strong international crew from being taken to Nigeria.