The US
has called for an international naval force to patrol the area around
the Strait of Hormuz in the light of increased tensions in the area.
For example, a BP Suezmax had been approached by three Iranian naval
vessels earlier while sailing in the Arabian Gulf towards the Strait.
“Three Iranian vessels attempted to impede the passage of a commercial
vessel, ‘British Heritage’, through the Strait of Hormuz,” a UK
Government spokesman confirmed. ‘HMS Montrose’, a UK Royal Navy frigate,
positioned herself between the Iranian vessels and ‘British Heritage’
and issued verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, which then turned
away.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps have since denied any involvement in the incident.
The Suezmax, scheduled to load oil in Iraq for Europe, had remained
inside the Gulf earlier in the week in ballast over concerns Iran could
seize her in a tit-for-tat response to the arrest of the VLCC ‘Grace 1’
by British forces off Gilbraltar.
On Thursday, she was reported to be sailing off the coast of Oman, according to Marine Traffic.
‘HMS Montrose’ had also shadowed the Isle of Man registered, MOL
controlled VLCC ’Pacific Voyager’ for part of her voyage towards Hormuz.
She had left Ras Tanura on 7th July loaded with Saudi crude.
‘Grace 1’ was stopped, as she was said to be loaded with Iranian crude
allegedly bound for Syria, which is in breach of EU sanctions.
The Gibraltar authorities have since confirmed that the VLCC’s senior
officers were taken ashore and arrested. The authorities also claimed
that they could legitimately hold the vessel for at least 14 days.
The VLCC was detained last week when it sailed into British Gibraltar
Territorial Waters to a point two miles off the Eastern side of
Gibraltar, having previously exited international waters of the Straits
of Gibraltar, on a pre-arranged call for provisions and spare parts, the
Gibraltar Government said.
Her detention related to the suspected destination of the cargo, the
Banyas refinery in Syria, which is owned by the Banyas Oil Refinery Co.
This company is the subject of European Union sanctions under EU
Regulation 36/2012, which is directly applicable in Gibraltar.
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