Maersk Tigris crew in ‘good spirits’

Ocean carrier Maersk Line says it has not yet received court judgment pertaining to the arrest of the containership by Iranian authorities.    Maersk Line said Monday morning that the Maersk Tigris, a ship it charters from Rickmers that was fired upon and arrested last week, remains anchored in Iran.
   The Danish shipping company said, “According to the latest update from Rickmers Shipmanagement the crew of Maersk Tigris remains safe and in good spirits.”
   On April 28, while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Maersk Tigris was approached and seized by Iranian patrol boats.
   Iran’s Port and Maritime Organization said the containership “was arrested according to the Legal Court of Tehran” in a dispute over a cargo claim. But Maersk said the seizure is “unjustified and we insist that the crew and vessel be released as soon as possible.”
   “We have yet to receive any written notifications (court ruling, arrest order or similar) pertaining to the seizure of Maersk Tigris or the cargo case,” Maersk Line said, adding that the Danish ambassador met Monday with the Port and Maritime Organization.
   It also noted the Maersk Tigris is not owned or crewed by Maersk, but rather is a time-charter vessel that is managed and crewed by Rickmers Shipmanagement. Maersk Tigris and its crew are thus not in any way party to the cargo case said Maersk. Rickmers is also appealing for release of the ship.
   The arrest of the Maersk Tigris followed another incident in which a U.S.-flag ship, the Maersk Kensington, was reportedly followed by Iranian vessels.
​   Last week the Defense Department official said forces from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command would accompany U.S.-flagged maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
   Bloomberg reported several U.S. flag ships have already been accompanied by the Navy.