MV Stena Impero

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.

Other Strait Of Hormuz incidents

• MSC Aries · 2024-04-13 · seizure