Suspected Hijacking Reported In Persian Gulf; Iran Denies Involvement
RFE
04 Aug 2021, 16:15 GMT+10
The British Navy reported the potential hijack of a ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on August 3, days after a suspected Iranian attack on another tanker left two dead.
Iran s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) denied that its forces or allies were behind any incident off the U.A.E., which maritime security sources reported involved the Panama-flagged Asphalt Princess.
Any incident is an attempt by Western countries and Israel to prepare the public opinion of the international community for hostile action against Iran, the IRGC said in a statement run on state media.
DUBAI: The British navy warned on Tuesday of a potential hijack of a ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf of Oman, without elaborating.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West over its tattered nuclear deal and as commercial shipping in the region has found itself in the crosshairs over it. Most recently, the US, the UK and Israel have blamed Iran for a drone attack on an oil tanker off Oman that killed two people. Iran has denied being involved.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations initially warned ships on Tuesday that an “incident is currently underway” off the coast of Fujairah. Hours later, they said the incident was a potential hijack. They did not elaborate.
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The Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations [UKMTO] agency warned of a suspected “hijacking” incident near the Emirati port of Fujairah but did not give further details.
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Hijackers who seized a vessel off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf of Oman have left the ship, according to the Royal Navy.
Recorded radio traffic appeared to reveal a crew member onboard saying Iranian gunmen had stormed the asphalt tanker.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the incident, which it had described as a “potential hijack” the night before, was “complete”. It did not provide further details.
“The vessel is safe,” the group said, without identifying the ship.
Shipping authority Lloyd’s List and maritime intelligence firm Dryad Global had identified the hijacked vessel as Panama-flagged asphalt tanker Asphalt Princess.
Potential Hijack Of Ship Off UAE Over, Vessel Is Safe : UK Agency Potential Hijack Of Ship Off UAE Over, Vessel Is Safe : UK Agency Boarders have left the vessel. Vessel is safe. Incident complete, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations tweeted.
UK maritime security agency had reported a potential hijack on a vessel (File)
London, United Kingdom:
The suspected hijacking of a ship in the Gulf of Oman has ended and the vessel is safe, a UK maritime security agency said on Wednesday, days after a deadly attack on a tanker in the region. Boarders have left the vessel. Vessel is safe. Incident complete, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations tweeted.