Maersk Ship Released After Commitment to Court Ruling

One day after the end of the U.S. Navy's mission to escort commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization announced that the 'Maersk Tigris' ship was released on Thursday morning, May 7, after 'obtaining a commitment' from Maersk to 'execute final judicial rulings.' Meanwhile, according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Marzieh Afkham, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, stated that the ship 'left Iranian territorial waters after completing administrative procedures.' According to the state news agency IRNA, the Ports and Maritime Organization referred to the legal dispute between 'Pars Talayieh' and Maersk Line, announcing that the 'Maersk Tigris' was released after 'continuous consultations and negotiations' with Maersk Line and 'obtaining a commitment' from the company 'to comply with the execution of final and enforceable judicial rulings.' The release of the Maersk ship comes as Iranian media reported on Wednesday, May 6, that Branch 31 of the Civil Court had ordered the auction of the cargo of the seized Maersk ship to cover the debts of this international company to 'Pars Talayieh' and the Iranian government. The cargo ship 'Maersk Tigris,' chartered by Maersk and sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was seized on May 8 by the naval patrol vessels of the Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials stated that the reason for the seizure was the owner's debt to Iranian companies, while the Tasnim news agency reported that Maersk had owed 'Pars Talayieh' for more than a decade regarding a shipment that 'was never delivered.' Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, announced that following a court ruling in Iran in February, it agreed to pay $163,000 to an Iranian company due to a financial dispute related to the transport of ten containers to Dubai dating back to 2005. However, reports indicate that the appellate court mandated Maersk to pay $3.6 million. One day before the release of the 'Maersk Tigris,' Colonel Steve Warren, spokesperson for the Pentagon, announced that the U.S. Navy's mission to escort commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz had concluded. He emphasized that U.S. combat ships would remain in the region and continue their mission to ensure maritime security. The naval patrol vessels of the Revolutionary Guards had fired warning shots at the 'Maersk Tigris' to seize the ship, which led U.S. naval vessels to escort cargo and commercial ships flying the flags of the United States and Britain in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz for several days. The Marshall Islands are militarily dependent on the United States for defense, social services, and subsidies. Iranian officials have emphasized that the seizure of the 'Maersk Tigris' was not politically or security-driven and was solely to enforce a court ruling in a commercial dispute between two private parties.