The Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker Talara has been released by Iranian forces, ending a brief seizure that began late last week near the Strait of Hormuz. All 21 seafarers on board are reported safe.
Columbia Shipmanagement, which manages the 73,371 dwt vessel, said the Talara was freed at 04:42 local time on November 19 and that the crew was in good condition after contact was re-established. Families have been informed and the company said it is preparing for the ship to resume normal operations.
The Talara had been en route to Singapore with a cargo of high-sulphur gasoil when communication was lost around 08:22 local time on Friday, roughly 20 nautical miles off Khorfakkan, UAE. Iranian forces then directed the ship to waters near Bandar Abbas, where it has remained at anchor.
The vessel had been held at anchor off Iran’s main naval hub while authorities investigated alleged cargo violations. The manager stressed that no allegations were made against the vessel, its crew or its owner.
The incident marked the first confirmed Iranian seizure of a commercial ship this year. Iran’s most recent hijacking prior to this was in April 2024, when Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces took control of the MSC Aries in international waters using a helicopter-borne boarding team.