The management company Columbia Shipmanagement confirmed that all crew members of the 73,000 dwt tanker are safe off Bandar Abbas, where the ship was forced to anchor after its seizure by the Revolutionary Guards.
The Talara, which was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands and was en route from the UAE to Singapore, was intercepted on Friday, November 14 in international waters, during an organized operation by the Revolutionary Guards, who boarded via helicopter.
The Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that the seizure was made following a judicial order, citing “handling violations” and “unauthorized cargo,” without providing specific details.
The ship was carrying approximately 30,000 tons of petrochemicals, while the Fars agency reported that the cargo “belonged to Iran” – a claim that remains unverified.
Columbia, the Cyprus-based management company, stated that it has re-established communication with the captain and is working with regional bodies for the immediate release of the crew, emphasizing that it operates fully in accordance with international compliance standards.
It is noted that the exact reasons that led the Iranian authorities to the seizure remain unknown so far, as – despite international mobilization – Tehran has not yet officially provided specific clarifications regarding the legal framework or the violations attributed to the vessel in question.
At the same time, a new front of instability has opened in the Black Sea following an attack on a Turkish LPG Carrier in the port of Ismail in Ukraine.
On November 17, at approximately 02:00 local time, the vessel Orinda (8,200 cbm) under the Turkish flag was hit during unloading operations, in a strike attributed to a Russian drone or missile system as part of a broader attack on energy infrastructure.
The strike caused a fire on the ship, but – according to Diaplous Intelligence – all 16 Turkish sailors abandoned the vessel in a timely manner and were transferred to a safe zone with no injuries reported. Firefighting forces rushed to the scene immediately, while no secondary explosions from the LPG cargo were recorded.
According to Diaplous, the incident underscores the increased risk for vessels in Black Sea and Danube ports, including neutral or non-involved commercial vessels, as targeted attacks on port infrastructure are multiplying.
The attack on the Orinda is a continuation of previous strikes on Ismail and Odessa, heightening concerns about the security of the region’s energy and export chains.
