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Iranian seizure of the MSC Aries

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Strait of Hormuz, location of the seizure

On 13 April 2024 Iran seized MSC Aries, a Portuguese-registered and Madeira-flagged container ship owned by Gortal Shipping and leased to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The ship, with a crew of 25 people, was boarded by Iranian commandos in the Strait of Hormuz, within international waters off the coast of the United Arab Emirates,[1][2] and taken to Iranian waters, effectively imprisoning the crew.[3][4]

The United States, United Kingdom, and Portugal (where the ship is registered) called for the ship's release immediately afterwards.[3]

Background

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Since 2019 Iran has engaged in heightened naval action against European, American and Israeli shipping, persistently attacking various vessels and seizing ships amidst political issues,[5][6] dubbed "piracy" by Israeli outlets in 2023.[7] Both the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas and article 101(1)(a) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) state that piracy occurs on the high seas. Additionally, Article 58(2) of UNCLOS states that piracy can occur in an exclusive economic zone. Violent acts against ships in the territorial sea of any State cannot be piracy under international law.[8] Violent acts in territorial seas are armed robbery under the law of the International Maritime Organization.[9] The event occurred during an escalation between Iran and Israel during the proxy war between Israel and Iran and Hamas.[10][11] United States president Joe Biden warned Iran not to escalate the situation in the week preceding the incident.[12]

MSC Aries

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History
NameMSC Aries
OwnerGortal Shipping
OperatorMediterranean Shipping Company
Port of registryPortugal
Completed2020
Identification
General characteristics
Tonnage149,525 GT
Length366 m (1,200 ft 9 in)
Beam51 m (167 ft 4 in)

MSC Aries is a container ship built in 2020. As of 2024 the ship is Portuguese-registered and Madeira-flagged. She has a length of 366 metres (1,200 ft 9 in) and a beam of 51 metres (167 ft 4 in). It has a 149,525 gross tonnage (GT) and a summer tonnage of 158,097 tons deadweight (DWT).[13] The ship is leased by MSC from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime,[14] with MSC directing the ship's activities.[15]

Events

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On the morning of 13 April 2024, Iran's Revolutionary Guards boarded and took control of MSC Aries via helicopter, claiming that it had violated maritime law.[14] The seizure of the ship occurred in international waters near the UAE coast.[16] The Israeli foreign minister called the Iranian action an act of international piracy, in alignment with international law. The Iranian military subsequently took the ship and its crew to Iranian waters.[17] The 25 crew members onboard comprised 17 Indians, four Filipinos, two Pakistanis, one Russian and one Estonian national.[18]

On April 27, the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian announced that the 24 remaining crew of MSC Aries being held were given access to their respective consulates, and would be released.[19][20] On May 3, he announced that the crew was released, but the vessel remained under the control of Iran.[21]

Reactions

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Following the incident, the Israeli foreign minister called on the European Union to sanction the IRGC.[22] Joe Biden shortened his vacation and returned to the White House for "security consultations," and defence secretary Lloyd Austin called the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, and said Israel can rely on the United States.[23] On 18 April, 16 shipping associations sent a joint letter to the United Nations requesting every effort to release the captive crew of MSC Aries, and for "enhanced military presence, missions and patrols in the region to protect seafarers".[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Amid rising tension, Iran's troops raid Israel-linked ship near UAE: Report". Business Standard. Associated Press. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  2. ^ Howard, Gary (13 April 2024). "Iran seizes large container ship MSC Aries in Strait of Hormuz". Seatrade Maritime News. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Hand, Marcus (14 April 2024). "US and UK call for immediate release of MSC Aries seized by Iran". Seatrade Maritime News. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  4. ^ Schuetze, Christopher F. (13 April 2024). "Iran Seizes Commercial Ship Linked to Israel". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  5. ^ "17 Indians among 25 crew on ship seized by Iran; India in touch with Iran to secure release of Indians". The Economic Times. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  6. ^ "US Navy says it prevented Iran from seizing tankers in Gulf of Oman". Reuters. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ Frantzman, Seth J. (29 April 2023). "Iran continues piracy against foreign vessels – analysis". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  8. ^ Guilfoyle, Douglas, ed. (30 April 2013). "Chapter 14: Policy tensions and the legal regime governing piracy". Modern Piracy: Legal Challenges and Responses. Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 325–366. ISBN 9781849804844.
  9. ^ "Code of Practice for the Investigation of Crimes of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships" (PDF). International Maritime Organization. 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  10. ^ Karnitschnig, Matthew (11 January 2024). "On Hamas, what did Qatar know and when did it know it?". Politico. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  11. ^ Mounier, Jean-Luc (14 October 2023). "Qatar, Iran, Turkey and beyond: Hamas's network of allies". France 24. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Biden predicts impending Iranian attack on Israel as nations brace for regional escalation". The Jerusalem Post. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  13. ^ "MSC Aries". VesselFinder.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Iran says MSC Aries vessel seized for 'violating maritime laws'". Reuters. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  15. ^ Pita, Antonio; Bronte, Trinidad Deiros (13 April 2024). "Iranian forces seize ship linked to Israeli businessman in Strait of Hormuz". El País. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Israeli Army Warns Of "Consequences" After Iran Seizes Ship Off UAE Coast". NDTV. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Iran committing piracy, Israeli foreign minister says". The Jerusalem Post. Reuters. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  18. ^ "17 Indians among 25 crew onboard Israel-linked cargo vessel seized by Iran". The Hindu. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Iran says crew of Israel-linked ship to be released". Reuters. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Houthis Attack MSC Vessel in Indian Ocean". Sourcing Journal. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Iran says crew of Israel-linked ship freed". The Jerusalem Post. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  22. ^ Eichner, Itamar; Ben-Ari, Lior (13 April 2024). "שר החוץ קרא להטיל סנקציות על איראן אחרי ההשתלטות על הספינה. יועץ לחמינאי: "ישראל בפאניקה"" [The Foreign Minister called for sanctions to be imposed on Iran after the seizure of the ship. Advisor to Khamenei: "Israel is in a panic"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  23. ^ Adelson, Daniel (13 April 2024). "ביידן מקצר את חופשתו בצל החשש מנקמה איראנית. גלנט שוחח עם אוסטין: "הוספנו יכולות חדשות"" [Biden cuts his vacation short amid fears of Iranian retaliation. Gallant talked to Austin: "We added new capabilities"]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Industry appeals to UN over MSC Aries seizure". SeatradeMarine News. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
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