Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Hero2

In a significant maritime operation this week, the Iranian Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) 'Pioneer' made headlines by unloading an impressive 270,000 metric tons of fuel oil into a floating storage unit (FSU) at the Tanjung Pelepas port in Malaysia. This unloading took place shortly after another Iranian vessel completed a similar operation just two weeks prior, where crude oil was discharged into an FSU near Labuan Island, located within Malaysia's Sabah state. The Pioneer, which was built in 2007 and is owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company, was formerly known as Hadi. The unloading occurred on Monday, September 17, 2012, at a FSU named Hercules, a VLCC that has been converted for storage purposes. The fuel oil cargo included both 380 CST and 280 CST grades. Following the successful discharge of the fuel oil, the Pioneer embarked on its return journey to Iran, as confirmed by sources familiar with the operations. This transaction marks a noteworthy event in the ongoing maritime trade activities involving Iranian vessels in the region.

On November 25, 2010, at 1439 UTC, the Iranian VLCC Hadi, registered under IMO number 9362073, found itself under attack by Somali pirates in the central Arabian Sea, specifically at coordinates 19°47'N 62°59'E. Armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, the assailants opened fire on the vessel. Despite the dire situation, the Hadi exhibited remarkable maneuverability, successfully evading the attackers and continuing its voyage. The vessel was en route from Kharg Island in Iran to Ain Sukhna Terminal in Egypt. However, the location of the attack raises questions regarding the maritime strategy employed, as traversing deeper into the Indian Ocean appears to be a risky choice, particularly given the notoriety of these waters for piracy. This peculiar route may be linked to compliance with international sanctions faced by the National Iranian Tanker Company, under which the Hadi operates as one of their re-flagged vessels.