The Stena Impero, a British-flagged vessel that was detained by Iran for 10 weeks, is approaching docks in Dubai, the company that owns it confirmed.
“Finally approaching berth in Dubai right now,” Stena Bulk Chief Executive Erik Hanell told Reuters in a text message.
The detention had raised tensions along crucial global shipping waterway, the Strait of Hormuz for oil trade between the West and the Middle East.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, about 96 miles long and only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes in each direction just two miles wide.
About one-fifth of the world’s oil, that constitutes around 21 million barrels per day, trades through the Strait of Hormuz, as of last year’s record.
Relevant: Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
Background:
The Stena Impero was captured by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the strategic waterway, Strait of Hormuz for alleged marine violations two weeks after Britain seized an Iranian tanker Adrian Darya 1 (then named as Grace 1) in Gibraltar.
Seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1 by officials in Gibraltar, accompanied by British Royal Marines. British Royal Marines in Gibraltar grid around an Iranian ship believed to have been carrying oil to Syria, which is, according to authorities is a violation of European Union sanctions on Syria.
Iran claimed they seized the tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, for alleged violations including turning off its tracker to dodge Iranian forces and colliding with a fishing boat, which British claims that is an act of retaliation against the UK for capturing their tanker.
