Iran has taken control of a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman’s international waters, says the US Navy, marking the latest in a series of incidents involving commercial vessels in the region since 2019.
The Iranian military reportedly detained the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker after a collision with an Iranian vessel injured several crew members. Following the incident, two crew members are missing, and several others sustained injuries, according to an army statement.
The US Navy identified the seized tanker as Advantage Sweet. Refinitiv ship tracking data reveals that the Suezmax crude tanker, most recently docked in Kuwait, is chartered by energy giant Chevron. Its intended destination was Houston’s US Gulf of Mexico port.
Managed by Turkish firm Genel Denizcilik Nakliyati AS, the company has yet to comment on the situation. The Marshall Islands ship registry also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The US Navy stated that Iran’s ongoing harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights in the area threaten maritime security and the global economy.
According to the US Navy, Iran has unlawfully seized at least five commercial vessels in the Middle East over the past two years.
After deploying a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to assess the situation, the US Navy concluded that the Iranian navy was responsible for the seizure. The Iranian government has yet to respond to requests for comment.
Analytics firm Vortexa data shows that one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and oil products pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between Iran and Oman that the Advantage Sweet had traversed.
