Having successfully got all UK tankers out of the gulf, the Stena Impero goes in and is now heading for Iran rather than Al Jubail in Saudi. What were they thinking…
Forgot to add that I’m thinking of the guys/gals on board and hoping that they will be treated well but fear that they will undergo significant privations…
Thanks for the pic but why oh why would you head into the Lion’s den…
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The office told me to? To quote Heinlein, “The Roads Must Roll”
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Yeah but things have changed since the ‘90’s when I was last threatened by the Iranians with Silkworm missiles whilst on the Isomeria.
The Stena Imperio is owned and operated by the Swedish family owned Stena Holdings AB through their UK Management Company Northern Marine and fly the Red Ensign, but there are reported to be no British crew on board.
Statement from Northern Marine about the Stena Imperio being captured by Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC):
https://www.nmg-stena.com/news/company-statement-stena-impero/
Hopefully having Russians on board will probably help…
The British oil tanker Stena Impero seized by Iran is said to have been involved in a fishing boat accident and ignored the boat’s distress signal. This is reported by the Iranian news agency Fars.
According to shipping company Stena Bulk, however, nothing is wrong and the tanker complied with all rules. The Swedish owner of the ship stated that the Stena Impero “had been approached by small vessels with no further characteristics and a helicopter while the ship sailed through the Strait of Hormuz in international waters.”
The tanker with 23 crew members has now been detained in the port of the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas since last night and must remain there until the investigation is completed, reports Fars, based on information from the port authorities.
Maybe. I believe that MAY have been a factor in the quick release of the other tanker. The Masdar probably have lots of Russian crews on board, judging by where Norbulk have their recruitment offices.
Northern Marine is recruiting for all Stena vessels and rigs. Nothing said about nationality restrictions, or preference:
https://www.nmg-stena.com/work-with-us/
Iran first says, “violating international regulations” - CNN
then says, “fishing boat accident” - Fars
then says, “retaliation for impounding Grace1” - NY Times
Hmm. I’ll go with door #3!!
Grace 1’s release is prove that you have a port nomination other than Syria…
A radio exchange has been released from moments the tanker was seized. In the recording, an Iranian vessel tells HMS Montrose it wants to inspect the Stena Impero for security reasons. In the radio recording, obtained by the British maritime security firm Dryad Global, the Iranian vessel can be heard telling the Stena Impero: ‘If you obey, you will be safe. ‘Alter your course to 360 degrees immediately, over.’
Having a war ship, also British, nearby does not mean a thing they seize the ship anyway right under their noses, while they are looking on they make a nice video of the boarding. Great protection…
The UK needs to start hunting and seizing, or sinking Iranian ships on the high seas, until the Stena ship is released.
From Erik Hanell, President of Stena Bulk:
“There are 23 seafarers onboard of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality. There have been no reported injuries and the safety and welfare of our crew remains our primary focus. We are in close contact with both the UK and Swedish government authorities to resolve this situation and we are liaising closely with our seafarers’ families.”
shame one has to go to crew source to determine nationality of crew. Press could do better with releasing nationality of all crew. OR do better by saying nothing, the best publicity for Iran is a free press. Something tells me a British frigate was told to lag behind, maybe because officers were East European and Russian. Bad move on this chess board.
That would mean that the same press would have a tougher time sensationalizing the promos for the “steel cage” / “no holds barred” match they are so fervently foaming at the mouth for.
That hunk of steel says London on the back of it. That is all the average person needs to know so they can support military action. Tail meet dog. Now wag for me.
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No, its normal for RN ships to lag behind as they did in the Armilla patrol. The recent incident where they put themselves between Iranian patrol boats and the tanker heading out was both a surprise and an exception.
A company based in Sweden has a ship sailing under a British flag with a crew selected for their low cost, none of whom is a British national. Expecting the cash strapped Royal Navy to provide protection seems a big ask.
The Russian will probably be OK given soviet relations with Iran, the Latvia and the Filipino are on their own and Iran and India haven’t been great mates since Darius the first was around.
We live in interesting times.
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The ship is owned by a Scottish company that is owned by a Swedish family owned company.
It is modern shipping, you may as well get used to it.
As for the nationality of the crews on board being of mixed nationalities that is also normal in shipping today. The Latvians may well be ethnic Russians as well, as this goes back to the separation of Murmansk, Baltic, Black Sea and Far East crews of the Soviet days.
I don’t think the Royal Navy would act differently if the Master, Officers or all of the crews where British or of Commonwealth origin. I’m fairly confident they are too professional for that. A British ship is entitled to their protection no matter what.