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Detained tanker released by Iran

The 'Hankuk Chemi' which had been seized by Iranian authorities in January, has been released nad was underway to Fujairah. On April 9, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the tanker and its crew were freed in the morning. The captain and crew's health was sound. Iran had seized the tanker, accusing it of polluting the waters with chemicals, and held the vessel in the port of Bandar Abbas since. The release came after South Korea promised to try to secure the release of Iranian funds frozen in South Korean banks under US sanctions. The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the ship's release following the conclusion of an investigation and at the request of its owner and the South Korean government. The Iranian decision to release the captain had taken into account that he had no record of past violations in the region.

Crew on its way home

The crew members of the 'Hankuk Chemi' were on their way home, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) said on Feb 24. The crew included five South Korean, 11 Burmese, two Vietnamese and two Indonesian seafarers. The ITF had received a request for assistance from the Federation of Korean Seafarers' Union (FKSU) to support the detained seafarers following the incident. ITF affiliate Iranian Merchant Mariners Syndicate (IMMS) was granted permission by Iran's maritime authorities to visit the tanker and check on the crew's welfare. On Feb 8, an IMMS representative and an ITF contact in Iran managed to come aboard. They were accompanied by agents from the Iranian Port & Maritime Organization. Following the visit, a meeting was held at Bahonar Port office between the IMMS team, the Republic of Korea consul and the Iranian Port and Maritime Organisation to review the situation and discuss the next steps to free the crew members. Shortly after this meeting, the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a statement that the crew members, with the exemption of the Master, would be allowed to leave the country. IMMS offered to provide Iranian seafarers so that the crew members could be relieved and repatriated home as soon as possible. Judicial proceedings into the alleged pollution by the tanker and its captain remained underway. The vessel owner, DM Shipping, denied all allegations that the vessel caused pollution. The latest incident comes at a time of increased tensions throughout the region. In particular, the tensions stem from South Korea?s refusal to release Iranian oil-revenue from South Korean banks. This has resulted in hostilities from the Iranian side as Tehran believes the decision to keep what is estimated to be up to $7 billion in frozen assets is unacceptable. The tanker remained docked at Bandar Abbas.

Once sick crew member released

One of the 20 crew members of the 'Hankuk Chemi' which was involved in an interaction with Iranian Authorities in Straits of Hormuz on Jan 4, who were still aboard the ship, has been released and returned home because of health issue, on Feb 11.