MV Stena Impero
seizure · 2019-07-19 · Strait Of Hormuz (off iran)
- Date
- 2019-07-19
- Region
- Strait Of Hormuz
- Vessel
- MV Stena Impero
- IMO
- 9797400
- Flag
- GBR
- Vessel type
- tanker
- Incident type
- seizure
- Outcome
- released
- Casualties
- none
Summary
The UK-flagged product tanker Stena Impero (Stena Bulk operator) was seized by Iranian IRGC Navy in the Strait of Hormuz in international waters — a retaliatory seizure following the UK Royal Marines detention of the Iranian VLCC Grace 1 off Gibraltar two weeks earlier. The 23-strong crew (Indian, Filipino, Latvian, Russian) were held aboard the vessel at Bandar Abbas anchorage for 66 days before release on 27 September 2019. Case became the modern reference for reciprocal-seizure risk during Iran-West sanctions tensions + drove the UK Maritime + Coastguard Agency Enhanced Transit Notification framework for Strait of Hormuz UK-flag transits.
Source
Reporting organisation: UKMTO
https://www.ukmto.org/indian-ocean/ukmto-advisories
Entries on this site are curated from public reporting by the named organisation. Verify against the original source before citing.