Maersk Vessel to be Released after Company Pays Debt: Iran
The Iranian Embassy in Denmark has reportedly said that a cargo ship recently impounded the Persian Gulf by Iranian Navy forces will be released if the ship’s operator company settles its overdue debts to an Iranian plaintiff.
“Iranian authorities reiterate that there has been absolutely no political or security intentions or considerations behind the incident,” read a statement by the Iranian Embassy on Thursday, AFP reported.
"The seizure of the ship was solely an enforcement of a judicial court ruling resulting from a commercial dispute between two private parties," it added.
"Naturally the ship will be released after settlements of debts by Maersk Line and will be allowed to sail to its final destination," stated the Embassy of Iran in Copenhagen on its website.
The cargo ship, Maersk Tigris, which was seized on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, had trespassed on Iranian waters carrying the flag of the Marshal Islands, a pacific nation.
Meanwhile, Danish shipping giant Maersk insisted on the release of a vessel and crew seized by Iran but an Iranian Embassy statement said the Maersk Tigris would only be let go once a years-old debt case was settled.
According to the report in Reuters, Maersk had chartered the ship, which according to ship operator Rickmer Shipmanagement is owned by undisclosed private investors. The company met with Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization on Wednesday and said the company "must presume" the seizure was related to the dispute.
"We have, however, not received any written or formal confirmation that the seizure and the cargo case are connected," the company said in a statement.
Maersk, the world's biggest container shipping line, said it had agreed to pay an Iranian company $163,000 after an Iranian court ruling in February which related to a dispute about 10 container boxes transported to Dubai in 2005.
"The Iranian company appealed the case seeking a higher compensation," Maersk said.
