
The MV Maersk Tigris, a Danish-owned container ship, found itself in a precarious situation in 2015. It was seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident occurred on April 28, 2015, when the ship was traveling from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took control of the vessel.
The crew of 24 people, including 18 Indians, was on board the ship at the time of the seizure.
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Iran's Actions
Iran's actions in relation to the MV Maersk Tigris were widely criticized.
Iran said the ship was detained because of a legal dispute between Maersk and a private Iranian firm.
The dispute dates back to 2005, when Maersk delivered 10 containers to Dubai for Pars Oil Products, which were not collected and disposed of after 90 days.
Iran insisted the ship was in Iranian waters when it was detained, while Maersk claimed it was in an international shipping lane.
Shots were fired across the bow of the vessel by Iranian patrol boats before it agreed to change course for Bandar Abbas.
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Iran Releases Seized Ship

Iran has released the Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship, Maersk Tigris, after seizing it in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship was detained by Iranian patrol boats on April 28, and its 24 crew members are safe and in good condition.
The seizure was due to a legal dispute between Maersk, the Danish shipping company chartering the ship, and a private Iranian firm. The dispute dates back to 2005, when Maersk delivered 10 containers to Dubai for Pars Oil Products.
Iranian officials said the ship would be freed once its owners paid a fine related to the legal dispute. However, Maersk's statement on the release does not mention any payments.
The US called the Iranian action "unacceptable" and sent the destroyer USS Farragut to the area to monitor the situation. The US Navy has also begun accompanying US-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz in response to the incident.
Iran's decision to board the vessel was a reflection of the high tensions in the region, according to CBS News senior national security analyst Juan Zarate.
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Demands Iran Release Vessel

Iran's actions have been making headlines, and one of the most pressing concerns is the seizure of the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris container ship.
Maersk Line has insisted on the release of the vessel and its crew, which were detained by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
The company assumes the incident is related to a 2005 court case over uncollected cargo, but has not received any written or formal confirmation.
Maersk Tigris was anchored off Iran's mainland and close to the major Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, according to Reuters ship tracking data.
The crew of 24 members, mostly from Eastern Europe and Asia, and also a British national, were on board the vessel when it was seized.
Iran's navy fired shots during the ship's seizure, but there was no damage or injuries to the crew.
Maersk Line has met with Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization to discuss the situation, but no progress has been made.
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This is not the first incident of its kind, as a U.S.-flagged Maersk Kensington was also approached by Iranian patrol boats earlier in the week.
The Pentagon has described the incidents as "a pattern of harassment", and the U.S. Navy has begun accompanying U.S.-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz in response.
Negotiations and Talks
Iran's state-controlled media first reported the ship's release, which was later confirmed by the Maersk Line shipping company. The release of the MV Maersk Tigris came after a constructive dialogue with the Iranian authorities, including the Ports & Maritime Organization.
Maersk said it provided a letter of undertaking in relation to the underlying cargo case, which was a key factor in the ship's release. The company did not mention any payments it might have agreed to, but said it would continue its dialogue with the aim to fully resolve the cargo case.
Iranian officials initially said the ship would be freed once its owners paid a fine related to the legal dispute, but the exact terms of the release are unclear.
Iran Near Vessel Deal

Iran is near a deal over its seizure of the Maersk Tigris container ship.
The vessel was seized in the Strait of Hormuz, but a settlement could be reached soon according to Iran.
This development comes after the Maersk Tigris was released from Iranian control.
Iran Talks Stalled
Maersk Line had met again with Iran's Ports & Maritime Organization regarding the seizure of the Maersk Tigris, but no progress was made.
The meeting was a follow-up to previous talks, but it's unclear what the outcome was or if there will be future discussions.
Maersk Line insists on the release of the vessel and crew, which were seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.
The company assumes the incident is related to a 2005 court case over uncollected cargo, but they haven't received any formal confirmation.
The Maersk Tigris was anchored off Iran's mainland near the port of Bandar Abbas, where it remains to this day.
Iran's navy fired shots during the ship's seizure, but fortunately, there was no damage or injuries to the crew.
There were 24 crew members on board, mostly from Eastern Europe and Asia, and also a British national among them.
U.S. Involvement

The MV Maersk Tigris was a container ship that was involved in a high-profile incident involving the United States Navy.
The ship was seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps on May 28, 2015, while it was traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet was notified of the incident and dispatched a team to investigate.
The U.S. Navy's involvement in the incident was significant, as it marked one of the first times the Navy had intervened in a maritime dispute in the region.
The Navy's efforts ultimately led to the ship's crew being released on June 1, 2015, after 13 days in captivity.
Ship's Status and Issues
The MV Maersk Tigris was a Marshall Islands-flagged container ship that was seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz on April 28th.
The ship was chartered by Maersk, a Danish shipping company, and was carrying 24 crew members, mostly from Eastern Europe and Asia, as well as a British national.

The crew was not employed by Maersk Line, and the vessel was not owned by Maersk Line either, but rather by undisclosed private investors.
The ship was anchored off Iran's mainland, not far from the major Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, as of Thursday, May 7th.
Iran's navy fired shots during the ship's seizure, but fortunately, there was no damage or injuries to the crew.
The US sent the destroyer USS Farragut to the area to monitor the situation, calling the Iranian action "unacceptable".
The Maersk Tigris was released on May 7th, with its crew in good condition, according to Rickmers Shipmanagement.
Sources
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-releases-marshall-islands-cargo-ship-mv-maersk-tigris-strait-of-hormuz/
- https://gcaptain.com/tag/maersk-tigris/
- https://www.voanews.com/a/maersk-insists-iran-release-crew-vessel/2742970.html
- https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/u-s-navy-starts-to-accompany-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32621300
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