US Navy dispatches destroyer after Iran 'fires warnings shots and boards cargo ship'

[Max]

The US and Iran are eyeballing each other again after Iranian forces boarded a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf and the American Navy dispatched a destroyer to monitor the situation.

It was initially reported that a US cargo ship had been shot at and boarded, but it later emerged the ship was the MV Maersk Tigris, a Danish owned vessel registered in the Marshall Islands.

The Pentagon said in a statement that Iranian forces boarded the ship at around 9am local time on Tuesday after firing a warning shot across its bows as it was traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The master was contacted and directed to proceed further into Iranian territorial waters. He declined and one of the Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) craft fired shots across the bridge of the Maersk Tigris,” said spokesman Col Steve Warren.

“The master complied with the Iranian demand and proceeded into Iranian waters in the vicinity of Larak Island.”

Mr Warren said that the US Navy responded to a distress call and dispatched a Navy Destroyer, USS Farragut to travel to the cargo ship as quickly as possible “to observe the interaction”.
He added: "[Navy Central Command] is communicating with representatives of the shipping company and we continue to monitor the situation. According to information received from the vessel's operators, there are no Americans aboard.”

Reuters said that Maersk, the Danish owners of the 65,000-tonne container ship, had told a Danish news channel there were 24 crew members, most of them from eastern Europe and Asia.

The vessel has been directed to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on the southern coast, Al-Arabiya reported. Iran's state news agency IRNA, quoted Mohammad Saidnejad, head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation, as saying a court in Tehran had given the order to seize the ship.

"A legal complaint from an Iranian private company resulted in the seizure of a Marshall Islands-flagged ship in Iranian waters," he said.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency suggested that the ship was trespassing in the Persian Gulf.

The incident comes as relations between Tehran and Washington have started to thaw after three decades of animosity.

Negotiators from the US and five other nations are attempting to secure an agreement by the end of June requiring Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for an easing of sanctions which has damaged the nation's economy.

This week, the US Senate will begin debating a bill allowing Congress to review the potential agreement.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will on Tuesday meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York, for talks on Iran's nuclear programme and other issues, an EU official said.

However, it is not yet known whether the incident at sea will be addressed during the meeting.

US Navy dispatches destroyer after Iran 'fires warnings shots and boards cargo ship' - Home News - UK - The Independent

 

[Al Bhatti]

It was sailing to Jabal Ali Port, Dubai

 

[Green Angel]

Iran should fire Anti ship Missile on Destroyer.......

 

[KAL-EL]

Iran should fire Anti ship Missile on Destroyer.......

Yes it should. The US destroyer will just sit there and let itself be attacked. It wouldn't defend itself or dare to retaliate, because it would be to afraid.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Three US Navy Patrol Craft Join Destroyer to Counter Iran in Straits
Apr 29, 2015 | by Richard Sisk

Three U.S. Navy fast patrol craft joined the destroyer Farragut Wednesday in the Straits of Hormuz to counter Iranian threats to safe passage through the waterway following Iran's moves against a Marshall Islands-flagged container ship.

Iranian speedboats on Tuesday fired warning shots across the bridge of the MV Maersk Tigris, which was registered in the Marshall Islands. Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard later boarded the ship, claiming it had strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

The Maersk Tigris and its crew of 24 are anchored between Iran's Larak Island and the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, Pentagon officials said.

The destroyer Farragut, which entered the Straits at "best speed" Tuesday following the takeover of the Maersk Tigris, was joined by the Cyclone-class patrol craft Typhoon, Firebolt and Thunderbolt, said Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren.

"What they're doing is keeping an eye on things," Warren said of the Navy presence in the Straits, and staying prepared if a response is needed to ensure safe passage through the heavily-travelled waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

Warren said the takeover of the Maersk Tigris came after another incident of harassment last week by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards speedboats. On April 24, four of the Iranian craft came astern of the MV Maersk Kensington in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian craft followed the Maersk Kensington closely for 15-20 minutes before backing off, Warren said.

The master of the Maersk Kensington later reported the incident to the Navy at U.S. Central Command.

"It's difficult to know why the Iranians are acting this way," Warren said.

In a statement, Maersk said "We are in ongoing contact with Rickmers Shipmanagement and are pleased to learn that the crew (are) safe and under the circumstances in good spirits."

Maersk stressed that the Maersk Tigris was in international waters when the Iranian speedboats approached.

"We are continuing our efforts to obtain more information about the Iranian authorities' seizure -- in international waters - of Maersk Tigris," the statement said. "We are not able at this point to establish or confirm the reason behind the seizure."

The 65,000-ton Maersk Tigris, flagged in the Marshall Islands, is managed and crewed by Rickmers Shipmanagement but on hire to Maersk Line, the shipping unit of Maersk. Rickmers said there were 24 crew, mostly from eastern Europe and Asia, aboard the ship.

Under a Compact of Free Association with the Marshall Islands, the U.S. was responsible for the defense of the Republic of the Marshall Islands "to include matters relating to vessels flying the Marshallese flag," the Defense Department said in a statement.

"We are in discussions now with the Marshall Islands" on the next course of action following the takeover of the ship," Warren said.

Three US Navy Patrol Craft Join Destroyer to Counter Iran in Straits | Military.com

 

[The Last of us]

Yes it should. The US destroyer will just sit there and let itself be attacked. It wouldn't defend itself or dare to retaliate, because it would be to afraid.

Iran would not randomly attack a destroyer for no reason, but if your destroyer makes a mistake of doing anything stupid, nothing would remain of it to retaliate with.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Patrol Coastal Ships - PC

Description
The primary mission of these ships is coastal patrol and interdiction surveillance, an important aspect of littoral operations outlined in the Navy's maritime strategy. The Cyclone-class PCs are particularly suited for the maritime homeland security mission and have been employed jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard to help protect our nation's coastline, ports and waterways from terrorist attack; in addition, the ships have been forward deployed to the Gulf region in support of the war on terrorism.

Background
The Cyclone-class ships are assigned to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Of the 13 ships, two operate out of the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Va., three operate out of Mayport, FL., and eight are forward deployed to Manama, Bahrain. These ships provide the U.S. Navy with a fast, reliable platform that can respond to emergent requirements in a shallow water environment. USS Cyclone was the lead ship of the Navy's Cyclone-class of patrol coastal boats. The ship was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on February 28, 2000, and was given to the U.S. Coast Guard the next day. There, the Cyclone was re-commissioned as USCGC Cyclone (WPC 1). Serving in this role for another four years, the ship was finally transferred to the Republic of the Philippines on March 8, 2004, where the Cyclone entered naval service as BRP Mariano Alvarez (PS 38). The Navy and Coast Guard signed an agreement in August 2004 that allowed five ships to be under the operational command of the Coast Guard beginning in October 2004. Two of five ships were returned to the Navy in 2008. The remaining three are scheduled for return in October 2011. In 2009, the ships began a sustainment program to update their ships engineering, navigation, communication, combat and support systems.

Point Of Contact
Office of Corporate Communication (SEA 00D)
Naval Sea Systems Command (SEA
Washington, D.C. 20376

General Characteristics, Cyclone Class
Builder: Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.
Propulsion: Four Paxman diesels; four shafts; 3,350 shaft horsepower.
Length: 179 feet (51.82 meters).
Beam: 25 feet (7.62 meters).
Displacement: 380 long tons (387 metric tons) full load.
Speed: 35 knots (40 miles per hour; 65 kilometers/hr).
Crew: Four officers, 24 enlisted personnel.
Armament: Two MK 38 25mm machine guns; four .50 caliber machine guns; two MK 19 40mm automatic grenade launchers; two M-60 machine guns.
Ships:
USS Hurricane (PC 3),
USS Typhoon (PC 5),
USS Sirocco (PC 6),
USS Squall (PC 7),
USS Chinook (PC 9),
USS Firebolt (PC 10),
USS Whirlwind (PC 11),
USS Thunderbolt (PC 12),
USS Shamal (PC 13),
USS Tornado (PC 14),
USS Tempest (PC 2),
USS Monsoon (PC 4),
USS Zephyr (PC 8)

The US Navy -- Fact File: Patrol Coastal Ships - PC

 

[Falcon29]

Iran and US have mutual interests in region, US can't afford a war with Iran. Since Syria and Iraq would witness major changes on the ground that are much larger threat to US interests than Iran is. It would have to attack Iran than attack Syrian rebels right afterwards. As much as people don't like admitting, US prefers Iran to have some influence in region because Iran's actions in Syria and Iraq protect US and Israeli interests. If Iran ceased support to Syria and Iraq, then Iraqi government will face ISIS alone. Which means US would have to once again deploy troops or risk ISIS expansion in Iraq. As for Syria, Iran ceasing support to Hezbollah and Assad regime would leave Assad regime unable to combat rebels and would lead to an Islamist Syria. Which is something neither Israel nor US nor Russia want.

So for people that believe this tension is real, stop being foolish please and look at bigger picture.

 

[Indus Falcon]

You worry about cleaning the toilets for your arab masters in UAE. Not every country gets droned/bombed by the US and will not reply or does not have the capability to reply.

@waz @Jungibaaz @Horus @Manticore His delusions are getting out of control. Please help him. Thank You!!

 

[Sinnerman108]

Cry louder, the mods can't hear you kid.

Have you forgotten this?
2011 NATO attack in Pakistan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Iran is not Pakistan. The US tries anything, Iran will not sit back.

So,
You are suggesting that Iran will not negotiate her nuclear ambitions ?
Oh, she already has !

 

[KAL-EL]

Iran would not randomly attack a destroyer for no reason, but if your destroyer makes a mistake of doing anything stupid, nothing would remain of it to retaliate with.

"Iran would not randomly attack a destroyer for no reason"

Well, that certainly nice to hear. However, maybe you should have responded and said this to the person who made the actual comment "Iran should fire Anti ship Missile on Destroyer" My response to his comment was based in sarcasm


"but if your destroyer makes a mistake of doing anything stupid, nothing would remain of it to retaliate with"

Typical nationalist huff & puff type of response which wasn't really necessary. I could now just as easily respond with my own nationalist huff & puff bluster, but thats a little beneath me. Not to mention the fact that the USN doesn't need me blustering for its capabilities.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Navy ships escorting U.S.-flagged merchants in strait
By Meghann Myers, Staff writer 6:24 p.m. EDT April 30, 2015

A dozen U.S. ships, including the destroyer Winston S. Churchill, are escorting U.S.-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with Iran.(Photo: MC3 Anthony N. Hilkowski/U.S. Navy)

Navy ships in the Persian Gulf are accompanying U.S.-flagged merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's recent seizure of one cargo ship and its harassment of another in international waters, a defense official has confirmed to Navy Times.

A dozen ships are operating in the area and capable of providing support, the official said on Thursday. U.S. warships frequently transit the strait, but it is more unusual for the U.S. to routinely convoy U.S.-flagged merchants through.

The warships include ships with the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, which entered 5th Fleet three weeks ago and spent several days in the waters off Yemen, a show of force that compelled Iranian ships to turn around.

The official was unable to elaborate on tasking for the ships, which include:

• Coastal patrol ships Whirlwind, Monsoon, Typhoon, Thunderbolt and Firebolt.
• The minesweeper Devastator.
• The destroyers Milius, Farragut, Winston S. Churchill and Paul Hamilton.
• The cruiser Normandy.
• The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.

The move, first reported by Defense One, comes as tensions rise in the region, with news that Iranian navy ships harassed one U.S.-flagged shipping vessel in international waters and later boarded a Marshall Islands cargo ship, a country under U.S. protection.

Only a week before, the TR and members of its strike group converged off the coast of Yemen, as rumors swirled that Iranian cargo ships were bringing in weapons to arm the Houthi rebels in their clash against the U.S.-backed Yemeni government.

The Defense Department is not communicating with Iran, and the country's motives are, "not clear to the Department of Defense," Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters Wednesday.

"It's difficult to know why the Iranians are operating this way," he said said. "We certainly call on them to respect all of the internationally established rules of freedom of navigation, the Law of the Sea, to which they are a signatory, and other established protocols."

Navy ships escorting U.S.-flagged merchants in strait

 

[Indus Falcon]

Iran says seizure of ship a legal matter


Wed Apr 29, 2015 5:42AM


Iran seized a cargo ship in the Persian Gulf because the company operating the vessel owed an outstanding debt to an Iranian private company which it is refusing to pay, an official says.

“A legal complaint by a domestic private company resulted in the seizure of the Marshal Islands-flagged vessel in Iranian waters by the Coast Guard,” head of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran Mohammad Sa’eednejad said.

The Coast Guard intercepted the ship belonging to the MV Maersk Tigris on the order of a court in Tehran, he said.

Sa’eednejad said the Iranian company has an outstanding amount of claims against Maersk which it has failed to settle.

“The complaint by a private plaintiff resulted in an order issued on March 16 for the confiscation of assets held by Maersk,” he added.

The ship was sailing in the Iranian waters when it was intercepted by the Coast Guard and diverted toward Larak Island near Bandar Abbas.

The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain dispatched the destroyer USS Farragut and a reconnaissance aircraft to the area following a distress call by the Maersk Tigris, the Pentagon said.

Sa’eednejad said the American forces left the scene when the situation was explained to them.

“It was announced that the issue was a legal dispute between two trade companies and the American forces accepted it,” he told IRNA.

The vessel has been described as a 65,000-tonne container ship and listed as sailing from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Jeddah, bound for the United Arab Emirates port of Jebel Ali in the Persian Gulf.

It reportedly had 24 crew on board, mostly from eastern Europe and Asia.

HB/HB

PressTV-Iran says seizure of ship a legal matter

 

[Hiptullha]

Iran would not randomly attack a destroyer for no reason, but if your destroyer makes a mistake of doing anything stupid, nothing would remain of it to retaliate with.

Iran has a history of randomly attacking things though...

 

[ashok321]

Iran can not be allowed to be one-up on US-Israel-Saudis axis.
West has the best weapon = Embargo, sanctions, something that weakened Iranian Rial beyond recognition.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Navy ends escort mission in Strait of Hormuz
By Andrew Tilghman,
May 6, 2015

The U.S. Navy has ended its week-old mission to accompany American- and British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.

U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren said the mission's authorization "expired" at midnight in the Persian Gulf, or about 5 p.m. Tuesday in Washington.

The mission began last week after Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps naval vessels reportedly fired warning shots near a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship and detained the ship and its crew.

Iran claims it intervened with the Maersk Tigris because the Maersk shipping line owes it money awarded in a lawsuit.

The Maersk Tigris remains anchored near the Iranian shore, Warren said.
The Strait of Hormuz, between the shores of Iran and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world's most strategically important choke points. About 20 percent of the world's oil supply travels through the strait.

The U.S. Navy was not sending warships to accompany the U.S. and British-flagged ships. Rather, they used U.S. Military Sealift Command ships or contract ships.

But military officials said U.S. Navy warships are positioned nearby and are ready to respond if needed.

Navy ends escort mission in Strait of Hormuz