A British flagged tanker appears to have been stopped off the Iranian coast.

**UPDATE: Officials confirm that the Pacific Voyager is “safe & well” & “stopped to adjust its ETA into Saudi Arabia”**

‘Not under command’ means the ship is not able to manoeuvre. It is not a distress signal, but it can indicate a problem. https://t.co/eD45jw50yJ https://t.co/tBFdD9RA5m

The 160,000 tonne crude oil carrying vessel has declared itself ‘Not Under Command’.

Under Part A of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), the term “vessel not under command” means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable to manoeuvre as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The most common causes of this are mechanical failure and piracy.

This comes not long after Iran threatened to seize a British oil tanker.

Earlier, the Gibraltar government (Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory) said it had reasonable grounds to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying crude oil to the Baniyas refinery in Syria.

Mohsen Rezai, a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Twitter:

“If the UK doesn’t return the Iranian tanker, the duty of responsible bodies is to seize a British oil tanker in a retaliatory measure.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador to voice ‘its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure’ of its ship earlier in the week.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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maurice10
maurice10
4 years ago

Tick tock…tick tock……..?

Jimfromkent
Jimfromkent
4 years ago

Hopefully this is just an easily fixed mechanical issue. But, as the OP makes clear, the timing and location are fortuitous for the Iranians if they chose to exploit the situation.

I wonder if the locally based T23 or one of the MCMV’s is making best speed toward the tanker, just in case? Fast roping some RM onboard is a possibility as well.

Pete
Pete
4 years ago

If ever there was a case for increasing the number of merlins that can rapidly deploy from say an LPH with teams of marines… having said that…. Last place on planet you want anybody taking a pop shot… Especially if on way out of gulf with full cargo.

Pete
Pete
4 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Now confirmed as safe

HF
HF
4 years ago

No mention of this on the news….

HF
HF
4 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Thanks.

peter french
peter french
4 years ago

If The UK has not immediatly taken precautions to defend British Tankers sailing thro Homuz then we need kicking. But wouldnt be surprised at the incompetance of our MOD . A small Marine force should be embarked on those tankers to see off any Iran attack

GWM
GWM
4 years ago
Reply to  peter french

Hasn’t stopped the Iranians before from kidnapping our people.

Charlie
Charlie
4 years ago
Reply to  peter french

Exactly my thoughts. If a direct threat from the Iranians to take a British tanker isn’t reason to take action what is?

john jefferson
4 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Well if you feel it justifies that UK can dictate with the USA who can do business with who…I say attack Iran…Then A bomb Iran as many ships and fighter jets will be lost.. Enjoy China and Russia war after that…Or rethink as Iran are not Arabs and you will suffer heavy.

Elliott
Elliott
4 years ago
Reply to  john jefferson

“Iran are not Arabs and you will suffer heavy?” The Iranians do not have any history of successful military operations. They did not manage to win a war against Iraq despite outnumbering them. Their Navy and Air Force were embarrassingly defeated inside of a day during Praying Mantis. The only difference between Iraq and Iran is one of size. Meaning the far greater number of their smoking corpses and twisted remains of their equipment at the end of the bombing. The biggest inconvenience would be the expenditure of ordnance. If you think Russians who eat pork and drink vodka are… Read more »

john jefferson
4 years ago
Reply to  Elliott

Sure Elliot USA is superman look how they have succeeded in Iraq and Afghanistan ect. You should look at your own police state that commits war crimes and silences the journalists that report on it..Well the mighty USA believes in democracy so who voted the USA to be the dictator of the world? The fiat dollar is coming to a end and the world sees you as a bunch of clowns.

Pete Boland
Pete Boland
4 years ago
Reply to  john jefferson

Yawn

Steve Martin
Steve Martin
4 years ago
Reply to  john jefferson

And yet his points about Russia and China are pretty accurate imho.

Animal
Animal
4 years ago

Non Story. Bad Press day on the UKDJ.

Charlie
Charlie
4 years ago
Reply to  Animal

Well it clearly had the potential to be. Anyways, (unfortunately) there isn’t massive UK Defence news all the time, sometimes it will be more out there. The people that run this site do a good job. Click off if you don’t like it.

Jason
Jason
4 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Exactly, they are a good organisation trying to report on events that relate to its subject matter !

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Well said.

Animal
Animal
4 years ago

Typed.

Animal
Animal
4 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Been on here a few weeks, Seen enough already. One Twat had a full on Meltdown. A Regular Clusterfuck of “Know it all” types I will indeed “Click Off” Charlie. Have fun with your Self Importance.

Charlie
Charlie
4 years ago
Reply to  Animal

Sorry you feel like that. Not trying to be a “know it all type” (hell I got burnt on another post for mistaking sterling for dollars, I can’t talk), just stating what I thought was obvious. Either way I don’t think there is cause here to be calling people things like that. All the best.

Barry Larking
Barry Larking
4 years ago
Reply to  Charlie

Agreed.

Harry Bulpit
Harry Bulpit
4 years ago

Shame sea venom has let to equip the wildcat. RFA Argus based in the gulf with a few venom armed wildcats and and a couple of marine carrying merlins would pose a significant and practical deterrent to any ille intentions iran may have.

andy reeves
andy reeves
4 years ago

get a warship from the anti piracy squadron to investigate and if needed intervene, because sometime soon something IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

andy reeves
andy reeves
4 years ago

get ‘big lizzie ‘bombed up ‘ and ready to roll, and a proper group around her lets see what a u.k battlegroup looks like r.f.a behind the carrier with sea ceptor fitted type23 two more 23’s on the flanks, a type 45 in front of the carrier ans 1-2 astutes, and if the ‘mad mullahs’ want to try it on, let them see how good it is the u.k should not allow itself to appear impotent in the face of these issues