Iran Seizes Cargo Ship, U.S. Officials Say
iranian forces have seized a cargo ship, flagged to the Pacific island nation of the Marshall Islands, off the coast of Iran, senior American defense officials told NBC News on Tuesday.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard fired across the bow of the ship, then boarded it, the officials said.
The ship, the Maersk Tigris, was in Iranian waters, preparing to enter the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, the officials said.
A U.S. Navy destroyer, the Farragut, is headed to the area, and Navy planes are in the air watching, the officials said.
A spokesperson from Maersk told NBC News' that the Maersk Tigris is currently being run on what they called a "time charter" by Rickmers Ship Management, which lists its head offices as Hamburg, Germany, and Singapore on its website.
— Jim Miklaszewski, Courtney Kube and Alexander Smith
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ir...ls-say-n349681
Iran fires at, boards cargo ship; U.S. sending defense
Iranian troops boarded a cargo vessel early Tuesday morning after firing shots at the ship, prompting the U.S. to send assets to the ship’s defense.
The Pentagon said at least five Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol vessels approached the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris cargo ship at 4 a.m. eastern time as it was transiting the Straight of Hormuz and directed the ship to proceed further into Iranian waters.
When the ship’s master declined, the Iranian ship fired shots across the bridge of the cargo vessel, Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said.
After shots were fired, the ship proceeded into Iranian waters near the vicinity of Larak Island.
It was boarded by members of the Iranian coast guard and is now being held in Iranian waters with about 30 people aboard.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...#ixzz3YdQKiQVJ
PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Foreign Ministry source tells Press TV ship seized over financial violations
28 Apr 16:32
PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Press TV: USS Farragut leaves after Iranian forces tell it not to intervene
28 Apr 16:32
PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Reports say Marshall Islands-flagged ship sent distress call to USS Farragut
28 Apr 16:32
PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Press TV learns Iran seized Marshall Islands-flagged ship due to legal issues
28 Apr 16:30
PERSIAN GULF INCIDENT
Pentagon: Iran forces board ship in Persian Gulf
28 Apr 16:30
USS Farragut ordered to respond to distress call from cargo ship intercepted by Iran
Iran Revolutionary Guard patrol boats fired shots at a commercial cargo ship and then intercepted the vessel, the M/V Maersk Tigris, which was crossing the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday morning, according to a senior U.S. military official.
Despite reports in some media, there are no Americans on board, the official said.
Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said it was “inappropriate” for the Iranians to fire the warning shot. The U.S. Navy has dispatched one maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to observe and monitor the situation, Warren told reporters.
The ship, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, was transiting the Strait into the Persian Gulf on an internationally recognized maritime route when the the Iranian military contacted the vessel and directed the ship master to “divert further into Iranian waters,” according to Warren.
“The master was contacted and directed to proceed further into Iranian territorial waters. He declined and one of the IRGCN craft fired shots across the bridge of the Maersk Tigris,” said Warren, referring to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. “The master complied with the Iranian demand and proceeded into Iranian waters in the vicinity of Larak Island.”
After the shots were fired, the Tigris issued a distress call which was picked up by U.S. forces in the area and the USS Farragut was ordered to head towards the incident. The closest U.S. warship was 60 miles from the incident. The Pentagon thinks about 30 individuals are on board.
The U.S. Navy has also sent aircraft to monitor its status.
According to the shipping company, which is in contact with the U.S. military, the Iranian military has boarded the ship.
Even though the Strait of Hormuz is in Iranian territorial waters, “innocent passage” is applied — ships are authorized to pass through the body of water assuming they abide by all the rules of the sea — because it is an internationally recognized shipping lane.
Warren said it was “to be determined” what the USS Farragut will do when it reached the vicinity of the incident.
The M/V Maersk Tigris was seized at the request of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (IPMO), Iran’s semi-official FARS is reporting, citing informed sources. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was seized after a relevant court order was issued according to the source, indicating that the IPMO had monetary differences with the ship owner.
It’s significant that the vessel is from the Marshall Islands because of the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the Islands makes the U.S. responsible for its defense.
“The government of the United States has full authority and responsibility for security and defense matters in or relating to the Republic of the Marshall Islands,” the treaty states.
A U.S. Navy official tells CNN that on April 24, the U.S. flagged cargo ship Maersk Kensington was intercepted by four Iranian naval patrol craft in the Strait of Hormuz. “The Iranians encircled the Kensington and followed the ship on its course for a period of time before withdrawing and breaking away,” the official said.
After that, the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet issued a notice to mariners about the incident. “We have been in communication with U.S. shipping industry representatives with regards to how their vessels should respond to threatening encounters with foreign naval forces, and how to contact us,” the official said. In the April 24 incident, no shots were fired. The official declined to say what advice is being given to U.S. cargo ships.
http://wtkr.com/2015/04/28/uss-farr....epted-by-iran/
CNN:Iranian forces seizes cargo ship
Real time location of The cargo ship :
MAERSK TIGRIS Current position (IMO 9694581) | VesselFinder
MAERSK TIGRIS - Container Ship: current position and details | IMO 9694581, MMSI 538005749, Callsign V7GQ7 | Registered in Marshall Is - AIS Marine Traffic
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