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Oil Tanker Sends ‘False Hijack Distress Call’ Off Iran Coast
A hijack distress call sent from a Panama-flagged petroleum products tanker off the coast of Iran turned out to be a false alarm, according to British security firm Ambrey.
The incident was first reported by the security firm on Tuesday. It occurred in the Gulf of Oman, about 51 nautical miles northwest of Iran’s Bandar-e Jask port, which lies just south of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
At the time of the report, the name of the vessel was not disclosed, but it was described as being linked to the United Arab Emirates.
On May 21, 2025, Ambrey clarified that the hijack alert was a “false hijack distress call.” The firm said it understands that the vessel involved had previously carried out similar actions.
According to Ambrey, the tanker is suspected to be part of a “shadow fleet”- vessels operated to evade international sanctions, particularly by Iran.
The firm also stated that a sister ship of the same fleet is already listed under US sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The incident caused brief concern due to the location’s history of security risks and rising tensions in the Middle East Gulf. However, no hijacking or attack was confirmed.
Ambrey described the situation as a strange case and said the vessel’s behaviour raised questions, especially because it has a history of similar incidents.
Reference: Reuters
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