GMM Safety | 2024-05-06 | Case Incidents |

Iran has freed all crew of the MSC Aries, the Portuguese-flagged vessel with connections to Israel. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized it on April 13.

Among its 25-member crew, 17 were Indians, one of whom, a woman, recently returned to India.Indian deck cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, hailing from Thrissur, Kerala, safely arrived at Cochin International Airport. Joseph was among the 17 Indian crew members aboard the MSC Aries, a container vessel flying the Portuguese flag, which was seized by Iran over the weekend.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Amir Abdollahian, announced this welcoming news in a telephone conversation with Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Foreign Minister. Though crew members have been released, Iran still controls the vessel.

The vessel was seized in retaliation for Israel’s attack on Iran’s embassy in Damascus, which killed many commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and two generals. Iran claimed the ship was seized as it flouted maritime regulations.

MSC leased the ship from Gortol Shipping, an affiliate company of Zodiac Maritime, partly owned by Israeli Businessman Eyal Ofer.

According to reports, the ship was stopped while passing through the Hormuz Strait, and then Iranian authorities landed on it using helicopters.This is not Iran’s first time confiscating a commercial vessel.

In January 2024, Iran seized a tanker carrying oil off the Oman coast.

Even before tensions escalated in the Middle East due to Israel and Hamas conflict, the U.S often blamed Iran for harassment and attacks on over a dozen international merchant vessels.

References: FirstPost, Times of India