Title: Legal Seizure of Tanker Confirmed, Crew Reported Safe and in Good Health
Iran Confirms Lawful Detainment of Vessel
Iran has officially confirmed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker ‘Talara’ this past Saturday. The action was carried out based on a direct order from the country’s judicial authorities due to the vessel’s involvement in violations and infractions.
Communication Re-Established, Crew Wellbeing Assured
According to a report from Reuters, the vessel’s management company, Columbia Shipmanagement, issued a statement on Monday providing an update. The company confirmed that the tanker’s captain made contact with the ship’s technical manager on November 16th. Crucially, the statement affirmed that “all crew members are in good health and their presence has been confirmed.” The ship is currently safely anchored near the port of Bandar Abbas. The total number of crew members onboard is 21.
Background of the Incident
Communication with the ‘Talara’ was initially lost on November 14th. At the time, the tanker was transiting through international waters, en route from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to its destination in Singapore. The situation drew international attention after a US official and maritime security sources reported on Friday that Iranian forces had intercepted and directed the vessel into Iranian territorial waters.
Ongoing Efforts for Resolution
A manager from Columbia Shipmanagement stated that the company is “urgently cooperating with regional partners to resolve the situation and guarantee the freedom of the crew,” indicating that diplomatic and professional channels are actively being utilized to bring the matter to a close.