They departed from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas after months of talks with Iran, the Greek-flagged tankers Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon. The two ships remained there tied up since May 27 when they were seized by the “Revolutionary Guards” in international waters.
The detention of the two tankers had taken place on the occasion of the seizure of oil by the United States following a judicial request to the Greek authorities on the tanker Lana, which was in the anchorage of Piraeus.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs had characterized the detention of the ships as “piracy” with a strong protest letter which it had delivered to the Iranian ambassador in Athens.
The cargo of oil belonging to Iranian interests, as reported by the Athens News Agency after a previous court decision, was finally returned to the Lana-flagged tanker Iran.
The crews of both Greek-owned ships had been replaced and the seizure concerned only the two ships.
The Iranian tanker Lana also reportedly left the port of Piraeus bound for Istanbul.
Plakiotakis: A particularly complex case came to an end
“Today is a very pleasant day for our sailors, but also for Greece in general, since an unpleasant and particularly complex case has come to an end, following the systematic efforts of the Greek government” said the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Yannis Plakiotakis after the release of the two ships.
“I want to thank everyone who contributed to today’s happy ending. From the first moment, the Greek government made strenuous efforts to reach a happy ending.
I would also like to warmly thank the sailors of the ships for the patience and trust they showed us during all the difficult days that have passed, as well as the ship-owning companies of the two ships, for our cooperation,” he stressed.
“The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy and the Coast Guard are and will always be at the side of our sailors, for any problem that may arise in every corner of the world.
Today’s positive development is yet another confirmation of our commitment to this goal and our constant effort to serve and protect the interests of Greek shipping and our sailors in the best possible way,” noted the responsible minister.
The final agreement was reached in Tehran in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Kostas Katsafados.
Source: News Beast
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