Maersk Tigris seizure happens only days after ’Maersk Kensington’-confrontation

Tuesday’s Iranian seizing of the Maersk-chartered containership ‘Maersk Tigris’ happens only four days after another ship, ‘Maersk Kensington’, had a confrontation with Iranian gunboats, Maersk Line’s press Officer Michael Storgaard informs Danish maritime news magazine Søfart. Maersk Kensington was approached by what was estimated to be four Iranian gunboats, while sailing on the route between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean. Maersk Tigris’ forced redirection from passage in the Strait of Hormuz thus follows in the wake of a similar Maersk Line-experience in the same waters. Although Maersk Kensington (contrary to Maersk Tigris) was able to sail on unhindered, Michael Storgaard informs Søfart that Maersk Line finds the recent Iranian interferences strange and unusual. The shipping company is however not ready to let the events influence their operations at this point, Michael Storgaard says. At Risk Intelligence, the over Iran’s recent actions in the Strait of Hormuz is shared. But neither here, the recent events make the company raise the threat assessment/level for ships in the strait: “Clearly, after the two incidents this week, there is a large focus on security. Everyone needs to be alert to Iranian military vessels. However, we do not estimate that there is a general escalation in the threat picture on the short-term”, Hans Tino Hansen, founder and CEO of Risk Intelligence, informs Søfart. He explains, “Our suggestion is that it is internal Iranian affairs that has triggered the seizing/arrest. Together with the Revolutionary Guard, hardliners may have used this event to pressure those who are more negotiation-friendly in Iran”.