A distress call suggesting a hijacking from a Panama-flagged oil tanker near the coast of Iran has been confirmed as a false alarm, according to the British security firm Ambrey.
The incident, reported on Tuesday, took place in the Gulf of Oman, roughly 51 nautical miles northwest of Bandare Jask port, which is located just south of the strategic Strait of Hormuz—one of the busiest shipping routes globally.
At the time of the report, the identity of the vessel wasn’t disclosed, but it was noted to be linked to the United Arab Emirates. On May 21, 2025, Ambrey clarified that the hijacking alert was indeed a false distress call. The company indicated that the vessel had previously engaged in similar activities.
According to Ambrey, the tanker is believed to belong to what’s known as a shadow fleet—ships that operate to circumvent international sanctions, particularly those imposed on Iran. They also mentioned that a sister ship from the same fleet is already under U.S. sanctions from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The incident raised temporary alarm due to the area's history of security threats and escalating tensions in the Middle East Gulf. However, there was no confirmation of any hijacking or attack.
Ambrey described the situation as unusual and highlighted that the vessel's past behavior raises further questions, especially since it has a history of similar incidents.
Reference: Reuters.
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