The Suezmax requires a lightering agent to transfer the crude to smaller ships, as its size and weight restrict it from directly entering the port. Shipping companies are worried that lightering the Iranian crude onto their vessels would lead other oil buyers to shun their ships on future voyages, one of those people said. "Our legal team said 'absolutely not,'" he added, saying the ship has yet to find any willing party to transfer the oil. A Western industry expert said the inability to discharge the cargo is partly out of fear of repercussions from Iran. The Middle East oil exporter has threatened retaliation against any oil company unloading Iranian oil from the seized tanker.

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Persons: Suez Rajan, Arathy Somasekhar, Jonathan Saul, Timothy Gardner, Parisa, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Shipping, U.S . Coast Guard, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Texas, Suez, Marshall, Galveston, Houston, Iran, U.S, London, Washington, Dubai