Iran ordered the release of Indian tanker MT Desh Shanti, which it had detained for the past 24 days at its Bandar Abbas port. The tanker was seized in the Persian Gulf while carrying crude from Basrah in Iraq.
The development follows hectic parleys between the two countries with India strongly objecting to the detention, saying it was a “colourable” exercise in transgression of UN convention on the laws of the sea and warning of serious ramifications. “Iran has ordered release of the Indian oil tanker,” a source in the external affairs ministry said. The shipping ministry, meanwhile, said it was awaiting confirmation of the release.
The tanker belonging to Shipping Corporation of India was seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on August 12 citing environmental and pollution concerns. India, however, strongly objected to these charges saying the vessel was on an “innocent passage” from Basrah to Visakhapatnam and was “forcibly diverted” to Iranian waters and then subjected to inspection.
In a letter to Iran, India had made it clear that Port State Control (PSC) is a legitimate mechanism to be utilized prudently and “any arbitrary enforcement of this well-established regime can have serious ramifications on the smooth conduct of international maritime transport and may send alarming messages to the shipping community...”
The development follows hectic parleys between the two countries with India strongly objecting to the detention, saying it was a “colourable” exercise in transgression of UN convention on the laws of the sea and warning of serious ramifications. “Iran has ordered release of the Indian oil tanker,” a source in the external affairs ministry said. The shipping ministry, meanwhile, said it was awaiting confirmation of the release.
The tanker belonging to Shipping Corporation of India was seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on August 12 citing environmental and pollution concerns. India, however, strongly objected to these charges saying the vessel was on an “innocent passage” from Basrah to Visakhapatnam and was “forcibly diverted” to Iranian waters and then subjected to inspection.
In a letter to Iran, India had made it clear that Port State Control (PSC) is a legitimate mechanism to be utilized prudently and “any arbitrary enforcement of this well-established regime can have serious ramifications on the smooth conduct of international maritime transport and may send alarming messages to the shipping community...”
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