After more than three months (almost four) since it found itself ‘imprisoned’ in the Persian Gulf due to the outbreak of war between Iran, Israel and the United States, the Grimaldi ship Grande Torino can finally set course for the Indian Ocean. As we write, the pure car truck carrier (with about twenty seafarers on board, some of whom are Italian) is heading at 18 knots towards the Strait of Hormuz with its AIS signal indicating Singapore as the final destination. The Italian-flagged vessel had been in the Middle East since February while following the scheduled route of the ro-ro line for transporting new vehicles from the Far East to Europe.
That the Grande Torino was about to become free was also announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, who in a message on Twitter communicated the following: “In a phone call with the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi I expressed satisfaction for the agreement reached between the United States and Iran, an important step for the stability of the region. It is now essential that the agreement holds and allows the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, guaranteeing freedom of navigation and the free transit of goods, without obstacles or tolls. We will follow and facilitate the 60-day negotiations through which the US and Iran must reach a definitive agreement.”
The Government official then continued by saying: “With the minister we discussed the situation in Lebanon: I shared Italy’s position which calls for an end to military operations and Hezbollah attacks. A new escalation must be avoided, in the interest of peace and regional security. I also communicated to the minister the decision to bring back the staff of the Embassy in Tehran.”
In conclusion Tajani added: “The minister guaranteed me that in the coming hours the Iranian authorities will ensure the conditions for a safe departure of the Italian ship Grande Torino, blocked for months inside the Gulf.”
In the same minutes that this message from the minister was published on the social network, the ship Grande Torino was raising anchor and pointing its bow towards the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the car carrier was stuck in the Persian Gulf, the CEO of Grimaldi Group, Emanuele Grimaldi, has repeatedly stated that he would not risk forcing the situation by attempting a passage through the Strait of Hormuz that could endanger his crew. Each day of ‘captivity’ off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has cost the Neapolitan shipping group tens of thousands of dollars.
N.C.
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