The Greek-flagged Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon, which captured Revolutionary Guard forces last Friday, were ordered today to head for the port of Bandar Abbas on the southern coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf.
The crew members are in good health. Their mobile phones, which had been taken away, were returned to them, and they were allowed over the weekend to contact their relatives and employers.
Twenty-three seafarers are on board the Prudent Warrior: 15 Filipinos, seven Greeks and one Cypriot."We are in regular contact with the captain," an executive of the company that owns the Prudent Warrior tells TradeWinds."
The Delta Poseidon, on the other hand, has 21 Filipinos and two Greek sailors.
The Revolutionary Guards, an arm of the Iranian armed forces, have claimed responsibility for the reset of the two Greek ships.
According to directors of the two Greek companies quoted by TradeWinds, the Iranian authorities have not given official reasons for the seizure of the ships in question. What they have initially claimed is that they are conducting an inspection in order to check the ships' documents and their condition.
Plakiotakis statement
Earlier today, Shipping Minister Yannis Plakiotakis made the following statement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since yesterday made a strong appeal to the Iranian ambassador, stressing that this action dynamizes bilateral relations and Iran's relations with the European Union, which was immediately informed. The crew members of the two ships, according to our last communication, are in good health. In close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs we are taking all steps to release the sailors and the ships."
Source: in.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
