Strait of Hormuz: 'Floating armoury' ship reportedly seized by Iran

A vessel reportedly functioning as a "floating armoury" in the Gulf of Oman has been taken into custody by Iranian military forces, as indicated by the maritime risk management firm Vanguard.

According to the UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization, the ship is now "bound for Iranian territorial waters."

Ship-tracking data verified by BBC Verify, sourced from MarineTraffic, reveals that the vessel—designated by Vanguard as the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan—last reported its position 70 kilometers (40 miles) north-east of Fujairah in the UAE on Wednesday.

Operators of the Hui Chuan informed Vanguard that it was serving as a floating armoury, housing weapons for security companies tasked with safeguarding vessels against piracy at sea.

BBC Verify is currently unable to ascertain the ship's cargo or its specific users.

Such vessels typically operate in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Oman, facilitating security personnel in the collection and delivery of arms and ammunition.

Tracking data illustrates that the ship has remained in proximity to the north-eastern coasts of Oman and the UAE over the past month.

Related incident: Indian vessel attacked

The reported seizure of the Hui Chuan follows an incident involving an Indian-flagged vessel that sustained an attack off the coast of Oman on Wednesday, as per statements from Indian officials.

The Haji Ali "reportedly sank" near Oman following an alleged explosion thought to have been triggered by a "drone or missile," according to Vanguard.

"All Indian crew on board are safe, and we express our gratitude to the Omani authorities for their rescue efforts," stated Indian authorities on Thursday.

MarineTraffic's ship-tracking data indicates that the 57-meter (187-foot) vessel departed from Berbera Port in Somalia on May 6. The ship's intended destination was Sharjah in the UAE, as confirmed by the Indian shipping ministry.

The vessel was transporting livestock "when a fire reportedly broke out onboard, leading the crew to abandon ship before it sank," Vanguard noted.

Fourteen crew members were subsequently rescued by Oman Coast Guard units and brought to Diba Port, according to Indian officials.

India's Ministry of External Affairs characterized the attack as "unacceptable."

International response

Discussions concerning the situation in the Strait of Hormuz took place on Thursday between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The White House reported that Xi expressed China's opposition to the militarization of the Strait.

"The two nations concurred that the Strait of Hormuz must remain accessible to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy," according to a statement released by the US following their meeting.