The crew of the oil tanker Talara, currently anchored off Iran’s Bandar Abbas port, is safe, according to its manager, Columbia Shipmanagement. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) seized the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel last week, citing alleged cargo violations. This incident marks the first tanker seizure by Iran since June, raising concerns about the safety of maritime routes for energy shipments.
The Talara’s captain re-established contact with the technical manager on November 16, reporting that all 21 crew members are safe. Communication had been lost on November 14 while the tanker was en route from Sharjah, UAE, to Singapore carrying high-sulfur gasoil. U.S. officials indicated that Iranian forces intercepted the vessel in international waters and diverted it to Iranian territory.
Columbia Shipmanagement is working with regional partners to resolve the situation and secure the crew’s release. The IRGC has a history of seizing commercial vessels in the Gulf, often citing maritime violations such as smuggling or legal disputes. The Talara last reported its position on November 14, according to ship tracking data.
