Operator of seized British oil tanker makes contact with crew

The Stena Impero was seized by Iran on Saturday

Published 24th Jul 2019

All 23 members of British oil tanker Stena Impero are safe and well according to the company which owns the ship.

The Master aboard the ship has told the owners of the vessel that the crew are in good cooperation with the Iranian personnel on board.

On Saturday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard captured the Stena Impero whilst it was sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran claims that it had collided with a fishing boat. The area is key route used for oil transportation.

The Stena Impero was approached by a helicopter and unidentified small naval crafts before being taken to the Port of Bandar Abbas in Iran.

The tanker is owned by Swedish company Stena Bulk but managed by Clydebank-based Northern Marine Management.

Stena Bulk said the master of the Stena Impero had "advised that everyone was safe with good cooperation with the Iranian personnel onboard''.

Stena Bulk president and CEO Erik Hanell said: "We do of course appreciate this step of development and that this is a first sign that we will soon see more positive progress from the Iranian authorities.''

The Swedish operators have also said that family members are being updated regularly.

Tehran released pictures of the 23-strong crew - including nationals from India, the Philippines, Russia and Latvia - at the weekend.