Stena Bulk: Stena Impero crew in good health

President and Chief Executive of Stena Bulk, Erik Hånell, said: “All of Stena Bulk and Northern Marine Management’s efforts and focus continue to be on the welfare and safe return of our crew and supporting their families during this very difficult time.”

“Our local staff in India, Latvia, Philippines and Russia are in constant touch with the families and we will continue to do everything humanly possible to keep them informed and to support them in every way we can.

The Iranian authorities had yet to formally respond to the request for access on 21 July.

The Head of Marine Affairs at the Port of Bandar Abbas told local representatives of the vessel’s insurers that no instructions have been received so far as to what will happen to the ship.

According to the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars, all 23 crew members are being held on board until subsequent legal proceedings are concluded.

Stena Bulk confirmed Stena Impero deviated from her transit passage to Jubail and headed north towards Iran on 19 July, after being approached by a number of small vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was in full compliance with all navigation and international regulations, and her Automatic Identification System (AIS) was switched on and publicly available and verifiable.

Following the incident, the UK Department for Transport raised its International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code security level on the Strait of Hormuz to Level 3 on 19 July with immediate effect. As the competent authority for British shipping, the Department for Transport requested all British flagged ships avoid the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.