Iran releases Greek sailor who served on seized vessel St. Nikolas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Jan 2024 09:32
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Empire Navigation Inc. announces that Iranian authorities released a Greek sailor after the St. Nikolas crude oil tanker was confiscated and brought to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

The Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seized and identified an offending ship with the flag of the Marshall Islands in April 2023. (Tasnim)

A Greek sailor from the St. Nikolas crude oil tanker, previously known as the Suez Rajan, was released after Iranian forces, on January 11, took control of the tanker and brought it to the port of Bandar Abbas, in Iran.

Reportedly, Empire Navigation Inc., the owner of the tanker, said that Iranian authorities released a Greek cadet, noting that the other 18 Filipino nationals remain in custody on the ship.

"The remaining 18 seafarers, still onboard the vessel anchored at Bandar Abbas in Iran, are in good health and in contact with their families," the press release by Empire Navigation Inc. explained, before adding that "Empire Navigation Inc., managers of M/T St. Nikolas, reports with great pleasure the safe release of the youngest crew member onboard its seized vessel. The Greek cadet, escorted by the Greek Ambassador to Iran, is boarding a flight to return home."

Earlier this month, Iran's navy confiscated an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman waters following "a court order" authorizing the move. It was later clarified that this tanker was the St. Nikolas, which had earlier been called Suez Rajan, the same tanker carrying Iranian oil that the US had looted in April.

DoJ admits US looted 1 million barrels of Iranian oil in April

Back in September, the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) confirmed that the US looted a tanker load of Iranian oil in April.

The DoJ's first official statement on the incident mentioned on its website that the government had seized the Suez Rajan, a Greek-managed tanker, and its cargo of 980,000 barrels of crude oil, allegedly being sold by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) to China.

The statement claimed that the sale violated US and international sanctions and that the US government obtained a warrant early this year for its seizure.

On April 19, around the time of the seizure, the vessel's owner, Suez Rajan Ltd, pleaded guilty to sanctions violations and was fined $2.5 million.

Subsequently, the Greek vessel operator, Empire Navigation, agreed to cooperate with US authorities and ordered the ship, located in Southeast Asia at the time, to take its load of oil to the United States.

At the time, US authorities would not confirm it was seizing the cargo and that the ship was sailing to the United States.