Vessel seized off UAE port, Indian ship sunk as Hormuz attacks continue

A vessel was boarded by unauthorized personnel on Thursday while at anchor northeast of the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah and was heading towards Iranian territorial waters, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

Two maritime security sources said the ship was believed to be the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan fishery research vessel.

At least two other vessels have been seized by Iran during the war that began when US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on 28 February.

In another incident on the trade route, an Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the United Arab Emirates was sunk on Thursday in waters off the coast of Oman.

India condemned the attack and said all 14 crew members had been rescued by the Omani coastguard. Vanguard, a British maritime security advisory firm, said the vessel had been hit by a missile or drone which caused an explosion.

Still, Iran appears to be making more deals with countries to allow some ships to pass through the strait - if they accept Tehran's terms.

A Japanese tanker crossed on Wednesday after Japan's prime minister announced that she had requested help from the Iranian president. A huge Chinese tanker also crossed on Wednesday, and Iran's Fars news agency reported on Thursday that an agreement had been reached to let some Chinese ships pass.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said 30 vessels had crossed the strait since Wednesday evening, still far short of some 140 that typically crossed daily before the war, but a substantial increase if confirmed.

Iran's Judiciary Spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Thursday the seizure of "US tankers" violating Iranian regulations was being carried out under domestic and international law.

Vessel seized from UAE port

Security in that area is particularly sensitive, as Fujairah is the UAE's sole oil port on the far side of the strait, allowing some exports to reach markets without passing through it. Iran included that part of the coast on an expanded map it released last week of waters it claimed were under its control.

The incident happened 38 nautical miles (70 km) northeast of Fujairah, British navy agency UKMTO said, citing a report received from the vessel's security officer.

British maritime risk management group Vanguard said it was reported at 0545 GMT on Thursday.

"The company security officer reported that the vessel was taken by Iranian personnel while at anchor," Vanguard said.

"The vessel is reportedly bound for Iranian territorial waters," it said, adding that contact had been lost and the vessel was no longer transmitting its position through the Automated Identification System (AIS).

The vessel's operator, listed on shipping databases as Marshall Islands-based SG Navigation, could not be reached for comment.

The vessel was last seen in the Gulf of Oman, just within Iran's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on 12 May, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.

An EEZ extends up to 24 miles (38 km) from a country's coast.