Hijack bid onboard ship off UAE ends: Report (Ld)
Hijack bid onboard ship off UAE ends: Report (Ld)
Last Updated: Wed, Aug 4th, 2021, 15:20:09hrs
Muscat, Aug 4 (IANS) A UK maritime security agency has said the potential hijacking of the Panama-flagged MV Asphalt Princess has ended after men who boarded and seized the ship in the Gulf of Oman left the vessel. All those remaining on board are safe, officials said.
However, there has been no further details given to the media, according to a BBC report.
The bitumen tanker was seized on Tuesday heading into the congested approach to the Strait of Hormuz. It is not clear who seized the ship, but analysts suspected Iranian forces.
Suspected hijackers leave ship off UAE , UK says
The Israeli-linked Japanese-owned tanker MT Mercer Street is seen off the port of the Gulf Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on 3 August 2021. [KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images] August 4, 2021 at 10:01 am
Boarders have left a tanker that maritime sources had said was seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and the vessel is safe, Britain s maritime trade agency reported today according to
Reuters.
Three maritime security forces had told
Reuters yesterday that the asphalt/bitumen tanker Asphalt Princess had been seized by suspected Iranian-backed forces, which Iran denied.
Hijackers have left targeted vessel off the United Arab Emirates’ coast in Gulf of Oman
FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The British navy says hijackers who boarded a vessel off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf of Oman have left the ship, without elaborating. The notice on Wednesday came after the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations warned of a “potential hijack” under unclear circumstances underway the night before. The group reported that the “incident (is) complete.” It did not provide further details. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attempted ship hijack, or what ship was targeted. Shipping authority Lloyd’s List and maritime intelligence firm Dryad Global had both identified the seized vessel as Panama-flagged asphalt tanker Asphalt Princess.
Wednesday, 04 August 2021 6:39 AM
[ Last Update: Wednesday, 04 August 2021 7:15 AM ] File photo of Asphalt Princess, the ship allegedly involved in a hijacking incident
The Iranian Armed Forces have denounced recent contradictory reports of maritime incidents and hijacking in the Sea of Oman as a Western “psychological warfare” meant to set the ground for new adventurism.
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman of the Armed Forces, made the remarks on Tuesday, after Reuters claimed that “Iran-backed forces” were believed to have seized an oil tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Citing maritime security sources, the report identified the seized vessel as the Panama-flagged asphalt/bitumen tanker Asphalt Princess.
Last Updated: Iran-backed Forces Accused Of Hijacking UAE Oil Tanker In Gulf Of Oman
British Navy on Thursday reported a potential hijack of a UAE oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, Tuesday. The tank was last seen moving towards Iranian coast.
AP
British Navy on Thursday reported a potential hijack of a UAE oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that occurred on Tuesday. As per the speculations, the British Navy believes that Iranian- backed forces were suspected of seizing the oil tanker. The incident comes after a British crew member was killed in another drone attack on an Israeli tanker a few days ahead.