The Greek manager of the VLCC seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz said it has done nothing to cause Tehran’s move.
The statement from Piraeus-based Smart Tankers comes a day after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized the company’s 309,000-dwt Niovi (built 2005).
“We confirm that the owners, managers and crew of the tanker have done nothing that would in any way justify the seizure,” the company said.
“We are working closely with the authorities and specialists for the immediate release of the crew members and the vessel and we call on the Iranian authorities to immediately release the crew and the vessel.”
Iranian state news outlets said on Wednesday, without elaborating, that the Niovi was impounded following a complaint by a plaintiff in a legal dispute.
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a Washington-based group pushing for sanctions against Tehran, suspects that the dispute might be connected with a ship-to-ship transfer operation in July 2020 that linked the Niovi to the 300,000-dwt Oman Pride (built 1998) — a vessel later sanctioned by the US.
Smart Tankers on Thursday didn't comment on why it thinks its vessel is held.
“Our first priority is the ongoing safety and welfare of the crew and our thoughts are with the families during this challenging time and we keep updating them of the situation,” the company said.
According to Greek authorities, the Niovis’ crew consists of 30 seafarers. All of them are from the Philippines and Sri Lanka with the exception of its master, who is a Greek citizen born in 1970.
The Niovi had an estimated freeboard of 21.25 metres when the Revolutionary Guard boarded it early on Wednesday, which suggests it was empty.
This is the second oil tanker that Iran has grabbed off its waters in less than a week. The seizure of the Chevron-chartered, 159,000-dwt Advantage Sweet (built 2012) likely represents a straightforward Iranian reprisal for another tanker with likely Iranian oil recently seized by US authorities.
