Mesdar Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On the evening of July 19, 2019, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized the tanker "Stena Impero" while it was navigating through the critical Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was diverted towards the Iranian coast amidst rising maritime tensions. Shortly thereafter, another tanker, the Liberian-flagged m/v "Mesdar" operated by British Norbulk Shipping UK and bound for Ras Tanura, was also halted by Iranian forces but was released a mere 3.5 hours later. Upon its release, armed guards disembarked from the vessel, allowing the crew to continue their journey after being briefed on environmental regulations specific to the Persian Gulf. The incident with the "Stena Impero" occurred due to the vessel reportedly turning off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), a violation that raised concerns for other ships in the busy waterway. Iranian media outlet Tasnim alleged that the tanker was involved in a collision with a fishing boat and failed to respond, leading to accusations regarding its environmental safety practices. The vessel was also said to be carrying materials under scrutiny for potential environmental risks, set to be investigated in Bandar Abbas. At the time of the encounter, the "Stena Impero" had a crew of 23, comprised mainly of 18 Indian nationals, alongside members from the Philippines, Latvia, and Russia. The tanker was en route from Fujairah to Al Jubail when it was intercepted by small boats and a helicopter around 5:30 p.m., subsequently altering its course. The vessel anchored in Bandar Abbas on July 20 as it awaited further developments.

On March 16, 2015, the MT Mesdar, a supertanker carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil from the Middle East, made history by docking at the Vopak-Dialog terminal in Malaysia. This significant event signals the commencement of operations at southeast Asia’s inaugural commercial crude oil tank farm, strategically located in Pengerang, Johor. This terminal, which is a collaborative venture between Vopak and Dialog Group, boasts a capacity to store up to 420,000 cubic meters of crude oil (equivalent to 2.6 million barrels), while also providing blending and distribution services, enhancing the region's oil infrastructure just across the Johor Strait from Singapore’s bustling trading hub.