Iran Seizes Bulk Carrier After Alleged Oil And Sludge Discharge In Strait Of Hormuz

Iranian authorities have seized a bulk carrier carrying sugar after accusing it of dumping oil, bilge water and industrial sludge into the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported on Monday.

Esmaeil Makizadeh, deputy head of Hormozgan’s Ports and Maritime Department, told IRNA that the vessel was seized after images showed oil being discharged into the sea.

“Following the publication of images of the discharge of oil into the sea… expert and clean-up teams were dispatched to the site and seized the ship causing the pollution,” Makizadeh said.

He said the bulk carrier had dumped a mixture of burnt oil, bilge water and industrial sludge directly into the sea. The department said the pollution spread into several small slicks because of sea currents, but clean-up teams contained the waste.

The waste has since been removed from the water, and the vessel has been handed over to the judiciary, Makizadeh said.

Iranian authorities did not identify the ship or say which country it was flagged in. They also did not provide the nationalities of the crew.

The seizure comes after several oil spills in the region in recent weeks. Iran has demanded compensation over some of the incidents, including an oil spill near its Qeshm island.

Earlier in August, an oil slick was also spotted near neighbouring Oman after a tanker ran aground.

AFP found that the tanker had been stranded for weeks near Oman’s Al-Qibliyyah island after explosions damaged it.

Iran has maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the Middle East war in February.

Iran has also said it plans to charge fees on vessels passing through the strait to help pay for services, including environmental protection. The United States strongly opposes the proposed fees.

The bulk carrier remains under judicial proceedings in Iran after authorities said the pollution had been cleaned up.

References: wionews, straitstimes