Tag: Gulf of Oman

Iran has released the oil cargo from the Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged tanker it had seized in the Gulf of Oman earlier this year, according to a shipping source who spoke to Reuters.

According to Reuters, officials reported on Wednesday that at least nine of the 16-member crew of a Comoros-flagged oil tanker, which capsized off the coast of Oman on Monday, have been rescued, while one crew member was found dead.

According to Oman's Maritime Security Center (MSC), an oil tanker flying the flag of Comoros capsized off Oman on 15th July. The MSC stated that efforts are ongoing to search for the 16 missing crew members.

Iran has announced its intention to release the 17 crew members who were on board a ship seized in January. This release is contingent on the condition that the Philippine Government sends replacement crew members for those being released.

One of the eighteen Filipino crew members aboard the oil tanker ST Nikolas, which was seized by Iranian authorities in January, has been released, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines.

Empire Navigation Inc., managers of M/T St. Nikolas, reports with great pleasure the safe release of the youngest crew member onboard its seized vessel.

An oil tanker formerly involved in a dispute between Iran and the United States, known as the Suez Rajan and later identified as the St. Nikolas, was boarded in the Gulf of Oman by unauthorized individuals in military uniforms, on 11th January. 

According to Gard P&I Club, regional conflicts, military activity, and political tensions continue to pose threats to commercial vessels operating in high risk areas such as the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Western Indian Ocean.

On 5th July, U.S. forces prevented two attempted commercial tanker seizures by the Iranian Navy after the Iranians had opened fire in one of the incidents near the coast of Oman. 

US MARAD calls operators of vessels transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz (SoH), Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Somali Basin to demonstrate extra vigilance as regional conflict, military activity, and political tensions pose threats to commercial vessels operating in these areas.