British-flagged tanker leaves Iranian waters after being captured by Revolutionary Guard
The British flagged tanker seized by Iranian forces in the Gulf was released after more that two months in detention. The Stena Impero left Iran's Bandar Abbas port on Friday morning and crossed into international waters shortly before midday. It was due to dock in Dubai overnight.
The 36,000 ton tanker was seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz waterway for alleged marine violations on July 19, two weeks after Royal Marines detained the Grace 1, an Iranian tanker, off Gibraltar.
The Iranian ship, renamed the Adrian Darya 1, was released in August. Erik Hanell, the chief executive of Stena Bulk, the ship's owner, said: “The Stena Impero has now left Iranian waters and is on route to Dubai.
“The Captain has reported that all crew members are safe and in high spirits following release. He added that the crew will be given medical checks and be de-briefed, before being reunited with their families.
The company asked media to respect the privacy of the 16 Indian, Russian, and Filipino, crew members on board.
Mr Hannell added: “Stena Bulk and Northern Marine Management would like to take this opportunity to praise the crew for their professionalism in the handling of this difficult and stressful situation. Also, to their families who maintained a caring and supportive role throughout. The importance of their support cannot be over stated.”
Iran released seven other members of the 23-man crew earlier in September.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry had said on Wednesday that although the detention order had been lifted, investigations into alleged violations of maritime law by the Stena Impero would continue.
The seizure of the tanker was seen as a tit-for-tat response to Britain's boarding of the Grace 1, and raised fears of a return to the "tanker wars" of the 1980s in the Persian Gulf.
It followed several attacks on tankers near the strait of Hormuz that the United States and its allies blamed on Iran.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “The Stena Impero was unlawfully seized by Iran. It is part of a pattern of attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation.
"We are working with our international partners to protect shipping and uphold the international rule of law.”
