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Iranian news agencies tied to the government and Revolutionary Guard are reporting that two foreign-owned tankers were apprehended earlier today, March 31, for diesel fuel oil smuggling. The crews are being detained and the vessels directed toward Iran.

Iran in the past has made accusations of vessels smuggling fuel, although today’s report asserts it is on a much larger scale. The Tasnim News Agency citing officials from the Revolutionary Guard is saying a “naval operation” was conducted in the central Persian Gulf. It is identifying the two vessels with the names Star 1 and Vintage, with some Western media reports saying one of the vessels appears to be owned by interests in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

They are contending the vessels are part of fuel smuggling networks and organized efforts to steal oil from Iran. They are reporting detaining 25 crewmembers after having seized 3 million liters of diesel fuel. The vessels are reportedly being taken to the Bushehr oil dock where the fuel will be unloaded under judicial order. The report says the tankers were identified through “intelligence monitoring” at the Bushehr port.

The action comes as tensions remain high in the region. Iranian officials said they are rejecting a letter from Donald Trump that demanded talks to resolve Iran’s nuclear program and threatened dire consequences. Trump reportedly said he could send long-range bombers to attack Iran.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, threatened retaliation if Iran was attacked. He told reporters on Saturday if ordered he was prepared to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Reports indicated on Saturday, March 29, the second of two cargo ships carrying the base component for rocket fuel reached Iran after a trip from China. After processing, it could supply solid fuel for approximately 250 of Iran’s medium or short-range rockets.

Authorities in the Port of Vigo, Spain reported they moved quickly to reduce the navigation hazard and direct the MSC Houston V (58,300 dwt) containership into port after it reported a stack collapse. The objective was to get the vessel to dock to prevent further damage and the loss of more containers overboard.

The containership was off the southwest corner of Portugal near Cape St. Vincent when it encountered a strong late winter storm. The vessel is reported to have experienced winds approaching 50 knots. The last stack at the stern of the vessel collapsed to starboard ripping open several boxes. With boxes ripped open and hanging over the side of the vessel, her arrival attracted attention in the port on Friday, March 21.

A later survey in Vigo indicated that between 15 and 20 boxes went overboard. Port officials are saying that they have been advised there was no dangerous cargo in the containers involved in the collapse. Portuguese authorities however have issued a navigational warning for possible debris in the water.

The ship which was sailing from Piraeus to Liverpool, England was unable to divert to Leixoes, Portugal due to its size. It is 876 feet (267 meters) in length with a maximum draft of 41 feet (12.5 meters) with a carry capacity of 4,432 TEU. Built in 2010, the vessel has been operating for MSC since 2022 and is registered in Portugal.

Port officials said the cargo stabilization effort will be complicated. They moved the port’s cranes away from the berth and brought in a mobile crane for the work. Local media is reporting the repositioning efforts began on Sunday, March 23, and MSC’s online schedule shows the remaining in Vigo to March 27.

Response efforts continued to Monday’s incident off the east coast of England in which a Portuguese-flagged containership hit a U.S.-flagged tanker that was anchored near Hull, England. The updates from HM Coastguard provided late on Tuesday, March 11, indicate that the containership Solong was still burning but that fears that the vessel would sink were diminished. The fires were greatly reduced with some flames still visible on the main deck and firefighting is focusing on those areas. A tow line has also been attached as a salvage team works to control the vessel.

Earlier in the day, the Coastguard reported the vessel was drifting. Its last position was to the south of where it hit the Stena Immaculate. The containership had also drifted further east into the North Sea away from shore. The tug with the line is reported to be holding the containership in "a safer position."

Briefing Parliament earlier on Tuesday, the UK’s Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, Mike Kane, said “The assessment of HM Coastguard is, however, that it is unlikely the vessel will remain afloat.” He had reported, “Modelling suggests that, should the Solong remain afloat, it will remain clear of land for the next few hours.... Tug boats are in the vicinity to ensure the Solong remains away from the coast and to respond as the situation develops."

At 2320 last night local time the Coastguard reports the Solong separated from the Stena Immaculate and began to drift southwards. The Stena vessel was anchored approximately 10 miles off the coast near Hull, England, and remains there while the Coast Guard continues to track the Solong. Daylight images today show multiple fireboats near the containership spraying the fire.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the owners of the vessel Ernst Russ is now denying the reports of dangerous chemicals in some of the containers. “We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide...,” they stated. “There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical and these containers will continue to be monitored.”

Images of the Stena Immaculate show the large fire is extinguished. Experts said they are remaining cautious however that there might still be fire below deck and they would be monitoring the vessel. Boskalis confirmed Dutch media reports that it has been retained to oversee the salvage operation for the tanker. The company said the timeline was unclear but that resources were already traveling to the ship.