Iran Releases Crew Of Seized Greek Tanker St Nikolas Under Replacement Crew Deal

Iran has started releasing the remaining crew members of the Greek-owned St Nikolas that had been seized by Iran’s military forces in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in Jan 2024, under a deal wherein a replacement crew is going to come to supervise the Empire Navigation-owned Suezmax.

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (abbreviated the DFA) reached a deal with Iran to release the crew members, with the caveat that the Filipino government sends other crew members to take their place.

Eduardo Jose de Vega, the undersecretary associated with the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said that non-Filipinos would replace the crew and that the vessel would possibly remain in Iran’s custody until a court in Iran decides what to do with it.

In September 2023, Empire Navigation admitted to violating US sanctions by shipping a cargo of Iran’s crude oil on the same vessel. In April 2023, Washington seized the tanker after it was caught while transferring oil off Singapore.

After the arrest, Empire Navigation entered a deferred prosecution deal with the US, pledging to transport approximately 800,000 barrels of unlawful Irani crude to the US for forfeiture and seizure. Iran seized two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz in a week to respond to the arrest.

Reference: Splash

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