Iranian navy captures vessel

IRAN is reporting that it has detained a South Korean tanker that was sailing in the Persian Gulf. The 17,427 dwt tanker

had departed Saudi Arabia’s Al Jubail port sailing to Fujairah, UAE, when the vessel was approached by the Iranian Navy and diverted into Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy later issued a statement saying the tanker, which was carrying 7,200 tonnes of oil, had been captured because of ‘repeated violation of environmental regulations’. Citing environmental and chemical pollution concerns, the Navy’s statement said that the oil tanker has berthed at Bandar Abbas, ‘for legal procedures to be performed by the Iranian Judiciary officials.’