Maersk Tigris siezed by Iranians

[Malsua]

This is not a US flagged ship(Flagged Marshall Islands) although there are reports that there are Americans on board. Still sketchy, this just happened.

[American Patriot]

Most of the Marshall Islands are US owned ships if I recall correctly. Let me check.

[American Patriot]

[American Patriot]

Iranian forces have boarded the Marshall Island- flagged Maersk Tigris- Pentagon. This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. The Iranian military on Tuesday seized a Western cargo ship in the Persian Gulf, the Pentagon said, roiling markets.1 hour ago

Iranian forces have boarded the Marshall Island- flagged ...

www.cnbc.com/id/102627185

Marshall Islands information




The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is about midway between Hawaii and Australia.

First settled by Micronesian navigators, they were subsequently controlled (some say exploited) by Spain and Germany, and finally by Japan.

Prior to the beginning of World War II, the Japanese fortified some of the atolls as a defensive measure. When that war ended with Japan's defeat, the United States was given total control.

For almost 40 years the islands were under U.S. administration as the easternmost part of the United Nation's Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

The United States used some of these isolated atolls for nuclear testing between 1947 and 1962. Long term affects are yet to be totally understood, and damage claims are still in the courts to this day.

In 1986 the islands gained independence under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Under the terms of that agreement, the U.S would provide significant financial aid, that to date now exceeds $1 billion.

The Marshall Islands include the Ratak (sunrise chain) and Ralik (sunset chain), two parallel chains of 29 coral atolls, thousands of tiny islets, and hundreds of very small low-lying islands, all scattered over a wide area of the Pacific Ocean.

The Kwajalein Atoll, with a huge central lagoon, is the largest coral atoll on the planet. The U.S maintains a strong military presence on Kwajalein, and from here controls a missile testing range.

The clear-blue waters surrounding the Marshall Islands boasts of over 800 species of fish and 160 species of coral. The numerous offshore World War II shipwrecks add another dimension to local scuba diving and snorkeling attractions.

[American Patriot]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reu...ds-vessel.html

Maersk Tigris ship manager declines comment, Pentagon says Iran boards vessel

By Reuters
Published: 10:38 EST, 28 April 2015 | Updated: 10:38 EST, 28 April 2015


LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - The ship manager for the container vessel boarded by Iranian forces declined to comment on the status of the vessel on Tuesday.


The Pentagon said earlier that the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris was boarded by Iranian forces in the Gulf.


The Maersk Tigris is managed by Singapore-based Rickmers Ship Management, which is part of Hamburg-based Rickmers Group. A Rickmers Group spokeswoman declined to comment when contacted by Reuters about the vessel.


Ship tracking data on Reuters showed the vessel was bound for Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, although it was still close to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas at 1530 GMT on Tuesday. Its previous port was listed as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

[American Patriot]

So they appear to be German owned (ultimately)