JUNE 5, 2023 – United States and United Kingdom Royal Navy forces responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, June 4, as Iranian fast-attack boats harassed the commercial ship.
The internationally flagged merchant vessel made a radio distress call at 4:56 p.m. local time while transiting the narrow strait.
The civilian crew reported three fast-attack craft with armed personnel approached and followed the merchant vessel at close distance.
The fast-attacked craft were assessed to be from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) and UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster (F 229) both received the distress call, and Lancaster launched a helicopter to provide surveillance. U.S. 5th Fleet also directed a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to monitor the scene.
The situation deescalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene.
The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident.
U.S. 5th Fleet remains vigilant and is bolstering defense around the key strait with partners to enhance regional maritime security and stability.
Story by NAVCENT Public Affairs
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
U.S. 5th Fleet
Updated Information:
A report by the Associated Press, citing ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.com said that a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier named Venture “erratically” changed its course as it travelled through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf around the same time that incident took place.
Additionally, the report also said that its location matched information about the incident given by the UK Maritime Trade Operations, a military operation which oversees traffic in the region. As per the media report, the ship’s registered manager was Trust Bulkers of Athens, Greece.
The latest incident also comes amid a series of maritime confrontations which have reportedly involved Tehran after the US withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal in 2018. Notably, about 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.