Iran 'seizes British-flagged oil tanker'

[Zippyjuan]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49053383

Just the other day they claimed seizing another ship. The UK had seized an Iranian ship they said was violating sanctions.

A British-flagged oil tanker has been seized in the Gulf by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iran media say.

The owners of the Stena Impero, which was bound for Saudi Arabia, say they have been unable to contact the vessel and it is "heading north towards Iran".

The company says there are 23 personnel on board and it was approached by "unidentified small crafts and a helicopter" in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Foreign Office is "urgently" looking into the reports.

The government's emergency committee, Cobra, is meeting in Whitehall to discuss the incident.

This latest development comes amid heightened tensions between the UK and Iran.

 

[Warlord]

This feels like a war is coming, what do you think Zippy?

 

[RonZeplin]

@14:12 Tanker War.

 

[RonZeplin]

There may be two ships seized the British flagged 'Stena Impero', and the Liberian flagged 'Mesdar'?

A further update now indicates that the Liberian flagged ship has been released with a "warning".

Britain Pirates Iranian Ship 'Grace 1' - Iran Responds - Takes British Tanker Hostage

........
Update 19:00 UTC

Another ship seems to have "violated international maritime regulations". The 'Mesdar', IMO 9452672, passed east to west through Iran's territorial waters north of Abu Musa island when it suddenly made a 90 degree turn and sailed north towards the Iranian coast.

via Marinetraffic - bigger

With 333 meter length and 60 meter breadth the Liberian flagged ship is a very large crude oil carrier. It has a deadweight tonnage of 315,802 tons. The ship came from Lanshan, China and was supposed to go to Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. The last AIS signal from the ship was received at 17:30 UTC. The manager/operator and owner(?) of the Mesdar is Norbulk Shipping Ltd in Glasgow, Scotland.

Update 20:15 UTC

The IRGC let the 'Mesdar' go after reminding her of the relevant rules. The ship has turned southwest to continue its planned voyage.

 

[XNavyNuke]

Iranian Ship 'Grace 1' - Iran Responds - Takes British Tanker Hostage

1997-built, 156,880 gt Grace 1 is owned by Grace Tankers Ltd care of manager Iships Management Pte Ltd of Singapore.

International shipping information indicate that Grace 1 super tanker has a capacity of 300,000 tons and sails under the flag of Panama.

Not an Iranian ship, just some bunkers filled with suspected crude from an Iranian oil field.

XNN

 

[Dr.3D]

Sounds to me like those oil tankers need some armed escort ships as they pass through that area.

 

[Swordsmyth]

Sounds to me like those oil tankers need some armed escort ships as they pass through that area.

Britannia no longer rules the waves:

[h=3]The Royal Navy Doesn’t Have Enough Ships to Patrol Persian Gulf[/h]
How the mighty have fallen.

 

[pcosmar]

Sounds to me like those oil tankers need some armed escort ships as they pass through that area.

I am suspecting that Armed Vessels will soon be unwelcome.. and removed from the area.

I am quite surprised (and pleased) that Iran has shown so much restraint in the face of obvious provocations.

 

[Dr.3D]

I am suspecting that Armed Vessels will soon be unwelcome.. and removed from the area.

I am quite surprised (and pleased) that Iran has shown so much restraint in the face of obvious provocations.

I am under the impression that the Strait of Hormuz is international waters and thus armed vessels can not be removed from the area.

If Iran is really showing restraint, they wouldn't be commiting piracy in the Strait of Hormuz.

 

[pcosmar]

I am under the impression that the Strait of Hormuz is international waters and thus armed vessels can not be removed from the area.

If Iran is really showing restraint, they wouldn't be commiting piracy in the Strait of Hormuz.

Check the ship track,, (same one used to trck AF's Boat)

Screen shots posted show the ship turn and make a direct run at the coast.. Stopped inside Iran Coastal Territory.

and Two Boats (or 3) making the same Provocative course correction Directly toward the Iranian Coast line is Certainly suspicious.

 

[navy-vet]

I am under the impression that the Strait of Hormuz is international waters and thus armed vessels can not be removed from the area.

If Iran is really showing restraint, they wouldn't be commiting piracy in the Strait of Hormuz.

That's my understanding too.
And, do you know, doc. if the Brits are holding the crew hostage like the Iranians like to do?

 

[Dr.3D]

Check the ship track,, (same one used to trck AF's Boat)

Screen shots posted show the ship turn and make a direct run at the coast.. Stopped inside Iran Coastal Territory.

and Two Boats (or 3) making the same Provocative course correction Directly toward the Iranian Coast line is Certainly suspicious.

Is this the picture you are talking about?

Looks to me like the course change is to keep from running aground on the southern coast. I would suspect most ships would do the same thing.

This picture shows more of the map so you can see why a course change is necessary.

 

[Dr.3D]

That's my understanding too.
And, do you know, doc. if the Brits are holding the crew hostage like the Iranians like to do?

I have no idea what the Brits do.

 

[TER]

I have a sneaking suspicion this is all theater and we are watching with actors playing their roles. I don’t have any insider info, but my spidey sense is leading me to think this Iran situation is a script.

I believe a few weeks/months ago it was revealed that the Trump admin has had secret dialogue/conversations with Iran.

Now Rand Paul is being tapped as an emissary to negotiate with Iran.

Now Britain (which is in HOT water regarding the Trump Russia witch-hunt whereby they used 5 eyes and spies to try and bring down an elected President of the US) has tankers be captured while escorted by a destroyer.

Methinks that Trump is orchestrating a movie script, and Britain and Iran (both under extreme pressure) are playing their roles. And in the end, a deal is struck, and Trump comes out looking like a hero.

He was always a fan of WWF wrestling.

Of course, this could all be false hope, in which case I will have egg on my face. But my spidey sense is tingling off the charts with this current ‘crisis’.

 

[Dr.3D]

Check the ship track,, (same one used to trck AF's Boat)

Screen shots posted show the ship turn and make a direct run at the coast.. Stopped inside Iran Coastal Territory.

and Two Boats (or 3) making the same Provocative course correction Directly toward the Iranian Coast line is Certainly suspicious.

Then again, there has been some problems with GPS systems and they could have been spoofed into making incorrect course changes.

 

[pcosmar]

Looks to me like the course change is to keep from running aground on the southern coast. I would suspect most ships would do the same thing.

.

Ah ,, No.. and that was the second ship... They were stopped but not detained .. corrected coarse and were free to go.

the first one had shut of its Navigational Beacon,, refused hails and was heading at speed directly at the coast inside Iranian waters and outside of normal shipping lanes.

Its Track is recorded.. Why it went silent is not.



As to someone deliberately and provocatively redirecting shipping.. Well that IS possible.


What is very clear is that some powerful interests are wanting a war with Iran.
And Iran is very diplomatically avoiding it so far.