The 21-member crew of a seized tanker have been reported safe following their capture by Iranian forces, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) highlighting the seizure as illegal, reports Safety4sea.
All crew members are reported to be safe and accounted for and the vessel is now safely anchored off the coast of Bandar Abbas. The host company is working with regional partners to urgently resolve the situation and secure the release of the crew.
The tanker lost contact with the vessel about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Khor Fakkan, UAE. CENTCOM monitored the seizure.
“Iran’s use of military forces to conduct an armed boarding and seizure of a commercial vessel in international waters constitutes a blatant violation of international law, undermining freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce. We call on Iran to articulate to the international community the legal basis for its actions,” CENTCOM stated.
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Source: Safety4sea
