Tanker War Redux

[Stuart Galbraith]

Threat to British ships in the Gulf has not gone away, Royal Navy chief warns.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50813676

[JasonJ]

Rouhani met with Abe in Japan. Abe explained about the SDF dispatch seeking understanding from Iran to which a soft nod. Abe also urged Iran to respect the nuclear deal.

 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave a nod on Friday to Japan's plan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to the Middle East to help secure the safe navigation of ships amid elevated tensions in the region.

 

In talks with Rouhani in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe briefed Rouhani on the envisaged dispatch in detail and the Iranian leader expressed appreciation for Japan's efforts to make its own initiative "transparent," a senior Japanese government official said.

 

The envisaged dispatch, separate from a U.S.-led initiative to ensure the safe passage of ships near the Strait of Hormuz, has been calibrated not to hurt Japan's good ties with both Iran and the United States.

 

With a formal decision pending, Tokyo is planning to deploy a destroyer and a patrol plane to enhance its intelligence-gathering capabilities in areas outside the Strait of Hormuz. Such a dispatch remains a sensitive and divisive issue under the war-renouncing Constitution but the Middle East is a critical region for resource-poor Japan.

 

Abe also expressed "serious concern" about heighted Middle East tensions and said Iran needs to play a "constructive" role in stabilizing the situation.

 

mposition of the sanctions.

 

Rouhani was visiting Japan as the first Iranian leader since Mohammad Khatami in October 2000, as Tehran apparently hopes to deepen bilateral ties amid the persisting Iran-U.S. standoff over the nuclear deal.

 

As U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a "maximum pressure" campaign, Iran is struggling under oil and other U.S. sanctions that were reinstated following its pullout in 2018. Increased gasoline prices have sparked widespread protests, adding to the country's woes.

 

"The nuclear deal is an extremely important agreement for Iran. That's why we strongly condemn the United States' one-sided and irrational withdrawal," Rouhani said in the meeting with Abe at his office in Tokyo, part of which was open to the media.

 

"We hope that Japan and other countries in the world will make efforts toward maintaining the accord," Rouhani said.

 

Japan has consistently supported the accord under which Iran promised to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. It was signed between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

 

Experts say Tehran is hoping Japan will resume importing Iranian crude oil to strengthen economic ties.

 

Rouhani was quoted by the Iranian presidential office as saying that Iran welcomes any plan that can increase economic exchanges and increase oil exports and sales.

 

During their 10th summit, Abe told Rouhani it is important to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which carries out inspections, according to the Japanese official.

 

Tensions have spiked in the Middle East after a spate of attacks on oil facilities and tankers, including a vessel operated by a Japanese firm near the Strait of Hormuz in June. The United States has accused Iran of being involved.

 

The areas that the SDF personnel will be deployed are the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

 

Japan and Iran have built friendly ties over the years, and Abe became the first Japanese leader to visit Tehran since 1978 when he went in June.

 

Sachi Sakanashi, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Energy and Economics Japan, said it was Rouhani's turn to visit after Abe's trip to Iran.

 

For Iran, the visit was meant to underscore the country is not suffering from isolation in the world as Japan and Iran have been on good terms for years, according to Sakanashi, an expert on Iranian affairs.

 

While the Trump administration has hardened its stance on Iran since Washington pulled out of the nuclear accord in 2018, remaining members such as France and Britain have been trying to salvage it.

 

Efforts are also under way to facilitate trade between Iran and Europe via a scheme that does not rely on U.S. dollars for transactions and can avoid breaking U.S. sanctions.

 

"With the U.S. sanctions in place and protests at home, Iran has been eager to explore ways to break out of the impasse over the nuclear deal," she said.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/12/c23dfa8401b4-rouhani-to-become-1st-iranian-president-to-visit-japan-in-2-decades.html

 

 

TEHRAN- President Hassan Rouhani has paid a landmark visit to Japan, calling on the country to help confront the United States bid to wreck the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

 

Rouhani became the first Iranian president to visit Japan since 2000 when he landed in Tokyo Friday, his overnight stay seen as the international outreach to the important Middle Eastern country despite US efforts to isolate it.

 

The Iranian president inspected a guard of honor along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the latters central Tokyo office before summit talks and a dinner scheduled to last into Friday evening.

 

Despite being a military ally of the U.S., Japan has traditionally maintained friendly relations with Iran as a major source of energy. In 2017, Iran supplied 5.2 percent of Japans crude oil imports.

 

Irans oil exports, however, have been disrupted by unilateral American sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

 

The nuclear deal is an extremely important agreement, and we strongly condemn the U.S. withdrawal, which was one-sided and irrational, Rouhani said in the meeting with Abe on Friday.

 

We hope that Japan and other countries in the world will make efforts toward maintaining the agreement, the Iranian president added.

 

President Rouhani has said that the purpose of his visit to Japan is to discuss the security of the Middle East and calming tensions in the Persian Gulf.

 

Abe plans to dispatch a Self-Defense Force destroyer and patrol plane to the Middle East. He is expected to explain the dispatch plan to Rouhani to seek a green light from Iran for the operation, Japan Times said.

 

Abe reportedly plans to send the SDF unit an independent mission for research and investigation, to the sea off Oman and Yemen and its surrounding areas, not including the Strait of Hormuz off the Iranian coast.

 

Japan would like to do its utmost to ease tensions and stabilize the situation in the Middle East, Abe told Rouhani Friday.

 

The Japanese prime minister, instead, wants Iran to remain committed to the JCPOA despite the U.S. withdrawal.

 

I strongly expect that Iran will fully comply with the nuclear agreement and play a constructive role for peace and stability in the region, Abe said.

 

Japan would like to do its utmost to ease tensions and stabilize the situation in the Middle East, Abe told Rouhani at the start of a meeting between the two leaders in Tokyo.

https://irannewsdaily.com/2019/12/president-urges-japan-to-help-rein-in-u-s/

 

 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday briefed Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tokyo's plan to send naval forces to the Middle East to protect Japanese vessels, a Japanese official said.

 

Rouhani said in response that he understood Japan's intention to contribute to navigational safety, the official told a media briefing after the two leaders met in Tokyo.

 

"I'm highly concerned about tensions running high in the Middle East," Abe told Rouhani at the start of the meeting.

 

Friction between Tehran and Washington has increased since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy.

 

In May and June, several attacks took place on international merchant vessels, including Saudi tankers, in Gulf waters which the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations. In July, Iranian forces seized a British tanker in the Gulf after British marines captured an Iranian vessel in the Strait of Gibraltar. Both ships were later released.

 

The planned Japanese operation is set to cover high seas in the Gulf of Oman, the northern Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but not the Strait of Hormuz.

 

According to a draft plan approved by parties in the ruling coalition, Japan will deploy a destroyer and P-3C patrol aircraft for gathering information in the Gulf region - source of nearly 90 percent of Japan's crude oil imports.

 

If an emergency situation arises, a special order will be issued by the defense minister to allow the forces to use weapons to protect ships under attack, according to the draft plan.

 

Japan, a U.S. ally maintaining friendly ties with Iran, is looking to launch its own operation rather than joining a U.S.-led mission to protect shipping in the region.

 

Local media have said the plan will be approved by Abe's cabinet as soon as next week.

 

In the Tokyo meeting, Abe asked Rouhani to stick to commitments made in the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement and said Japan would do what it can to ensure stability in the Middle East.

 

In turn, Rouhani asked Abe to work with other countries to help keep the nuclear deal alive.

 

"I hope Japan and other countries in the world will work hard to help keep the nuclear agreement in place."

 

In response to re-imposed sanctions, Iran has gradually scaled back its commitments to the deal this year.

 

A European operation to ensure safe shipping in the Gulf will get underway next month when a French warship starts patrolling there. The French government has pushed for a European security alternative after ruling out taking part in the U.S.-led mission.

https://m.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Japan-briefs-Iran-on-plan-to-send-forces-to-Middle-East-611614/amp

Edited December 20, 2019 by JasonJ

[JasonJ]

Iran to conduct naval joint-training with China and Russia from Dec 27th to Dec 30th in the Sea of Oman and Indian Ocean. Type 52D destroyer Xining will be participating in it.

 

(Reuters) - China, Iran and Russia will hold joint naval drills starting on Friday in the Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman, China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday，amid heightened tensions in the region between Tehran and Washington.

 

China will send the Xining, a guided missile destroyer, to the drills, which will last from Dec. 27 to 30, and is meant to deepen cooperation between the three countries' navies, ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing.

 

The Sea of Oman is a particularly sensitive waterway as it connects to the Strait of Hormuz - through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes - which in turn connects to the Arabian Gulf.

 

The drills are also coming at a time of fraught tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

 

Friction has increased since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy.

 

Washington has proposed a U.S.-led naval mission after several attacks in May and June on international merchant vessels, including Saudi tankers, in Gulf waters which the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations.

 

Tensions have risen in the region not only over Iran's disputed nuclear programme but also over a September attack on Saudi oil facilities blamed on Iran by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Iran also denies involvement.

 

China has close diplomatic, trade and energy ties with Iran.

 

But Beijing also has good relations with Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, meaning it has long had to tread a fine line in a part of the world where Beijing has traditionally exerted far less sway than the United States, Russia, France or Britain.

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit Saudi Arabia next year as it is the host of the 2020 G20 summit.

 

https://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idINKBN1YU0GA

[JasonJ]

The Japanese cabinet passed the JMSDF dispatch plan. The dispatch will be of about 260 personnel using 1 destroyer and P-3C. The mission will be one year long and ends next year on December 26th although the mission can be renewed for another year. The P-3C will depart on January 11th and first head to an originally scheduled mission of anti-piracy patrol to Djbouti. The destroyer will depart in early February and then arrive and begin its mission in late February, at which time the P-3C will link up with the destroyer. Their patroling area is restricted to the Sea of Oman, the northern part of the Arabian Sea, and east of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. In consideration of Iran, waters that border it such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are not included. The dispatch will have the ability to shoot in order to protect Japanese vessels. While the JMSDF will not partcipate in the US-led initiative, information will be shared with US naval command based in Bahrain.

 

政府は27日午前の閣議で、防衛省設置法の「調査・研究」を根拠に中東海域での航行の安全確保を目的とした海上自衛隊の独自派遣を決定した。閣議決定を受け、河野太郎防衛相は派遣に向けた準備を指示する。来年1月下旬から、アフリカ東部ジブチを拠点に海賊対処に当たる哨戒機部隊が新任務を兼ね、新たに派遣する護衛艦部隊は2月下旬の現地での活動開始を目指す。

 

訓練などを除く本格的な自衛隊部隊の新たな海外派遣は、2016年の安全保障関連法施行以来初めて。派遣期間は来年12月26日までの1年間。延長する場合は再度、閣議決定を行う。情勢に変化があった場合は国家安全保障会議で対応を協議する。

 

調査・研究の活動中に、日本船籍が襲われるなど「不測の事態」が起きれば、安保法制整備の一環として15年5月に定めた手続きに従い、電話閣議を含む迅速な閣議決定を経て、武器使用も伴う「海上警備行動」を発令する。

 

　海賊対処任務の交代のため、1月11日に日本を出発する哨戒機部隊が新任務を兼ねる。護衛艦は2月上旬に日本を出発する。要員は計約260人。米国主導の海洋安全保障イニシアチブ（有志連合）には参加しないが、バーレーンの米海軍司令部に連絡要員を派遣し、情報を共有する。

 

　活動の範囲は、オマーン湾▽アラビア海北部▽バベルマンデブ海峡東側のアデン湾――の公海に限る。イランへの配慮から、同国と接するホルムズ海峡やペルシャ湾は対象としない。【田辺佑介】

 

中東への海自の独自派遣のポイント

・防衛省設置法の「調査・研究」を根拠とする

 

・護衛艦1隻が来年2月上旬に出航。1月に日本を出発する哨戒機部隊が新任務を兼ねる。要員は約260人

 

・派遣期間は1年間。延長の場合は再度、閣議決定を行う

 

・閣議決定後と活動終了後に国会報告を行う

 

・不測の事態が生じた場合は武器使用も伴う海上警備行動を発令

 

・活動範囲はオマーン湾、アラビア海北部、バベルマンデブ海峡東側のアデン湾の公海

 

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20191227/k00/00m/010/036000c.amp

Edited December 27, 2019 by JasonJ

[JasonJ]

I don't to fill this up with lots of stuff from my end. There's easily a similar amount of content from the US-led operation or the European one seeming to be coming about. Just covering this side.

 

JS Sazanami made a visit to Oman and conducted joint training in communications and tactical manuevers with RNOV Al Shamikh in the waters around Port Duqm on December 21st.

https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/release/201912/20191222.pdf

Edited December 27, 2019 by JasonJ

[JasonJ]

Iran to conduct naval joint-training with China and Russia from Dec 27th to Dec 30th in the Sea of Oman and Indian Ocean. Type 52D destroyer Xining will be participating in it.

 

 

(Reuters) - China, Iran and Russia will hold joint naval drills starting on Friday in the Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman, China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday，amid heightened tensions in the region between Tehran and Washington.

 

China will send the Xining, a guided missile destroyer, to the drills, which will last from Dec. 27 to 30, and is meant to deepen cooperation between the three countries' navies, ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing.

 

The Sea of Oman is a particularly sensitive waterway as it connects to the Strait of Hormuz - through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes - which in turn connects to the Arabian Gulf.

 

The drills are also coming at a time of fraught tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

 

Friction has increased since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy.

 

Washington has proposed a U.S.-led naval mission after several attacks in May and June on international merchant vessels, including Saudi tankers, in Gulf waters which the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations.

 

Tensions have risen in the region not only over Iran's disputed nuclear programme but also over a September attack on Saudi oil facilities blamed on Iran by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Iran also denies involvement.

 

China has close diplomatic, trade and energy ties with Iran.

 

But Beijing also has good relations with Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, meaning it has long had to tread a fine line in a part of the world where Beijing has traditionally exerted far less sway than the United States, Russia, France or Britain.

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit Saudi Arabia next year as it is the host of the 2020 G20 summit.

https://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idINKBN1YU0GA

 

Some pictures from the joint-training. The images include the text because the site is one of those kinds that don't allow text copying, otherwise I would have just copy/pasted the text.

Eight more images in the spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://k.sina.cn/article_2064746795_p7b11892b02700l2v0.html?kfrome=mil&local=&subch=0&vt=4

[JasonJ]

The Japanese cabinet passed the JMSDF dispatch plan. The dispatch will be of about 260 personnel using 1 destroyer and P-3C. The mission will be one year long and ends next year on December 26th although the mission can be renewed for another year. The P-3C will depart on January 11th and first head to an originally scheduled mission of anti-piracy patrol to Djbouti. The destroyer will depart in early February and then arrive and begin its mission in late February, at which time the P-3C will link up with the destroyer. Their patroling area is restricted to the Sea of Oman, the northern part of the Arabian Sea, and east of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. In consideration of Iran, waters that border it such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are not included. The dispatch will have the ability to shoot in order to protect Japanese vessels. While the JMSDF will not partcipate in the US-led initiative, information will be shared with US naval command based in Bahrain.

 

 

政府は27日午前の閣議で、防衛省設置法の「調査・研究」を根拠に中東海域での航行の安全確保を目的とした海上自衛隊の独自派遣を決定した。閣議決定を受け、河野太郎防衛相は派遣に向けた準備を指示する。来年1月下旬から、アフリカ東部ジブチを拠点に海賊対処に当たる哨戒機部隊が新任務を兼ね、新たに派遣する護衛艦部隊は2月下旬の現地での活動開始を目指す。

 

訓練などを除く本格的な自衛隊部隊の新たな海外派遣は、2016年の安全保障関連法施行以来初めて。派遣期間は来年12月26日までの1年間。延長する場合は再度、閣議決定を行う。情勢に変化があった場合は国家安全保障会議で対応を協議する。

 

調査・研究の活動中に、日本船籍が襲われるなど「不測の事態」が起きれば、安保法制整備の一環として15年5月に定めた手続きに従い、電話閣議を含む迅速な閣議決定を経て、武器使用も伴う「海上警備行動」を発令する。

 

　海賊対処任務の交代のため、1月11日に日本を出発する哨戒機部隊が新任務を兼ねる。護衛艦は2月上旬に日本を出発する。要員は計約260人。米国主導の海洋安全保障イニシアチブ（有志連合）には参加しないが、バーレーンの米海軍司令部に連絡要員を派遣し、情報を共有する。

 

　活動の範囲は、オマーン湾▽アラビア海北部▽バベルマンデブ海峡東側のアデン湾――の公海に限る。イランへの配慮から、同国と接するホルムズ海峡やペルシャ湾は対象としない。【田辺佑介】

 

中東への海自の独自派遣のポイント

・防衛省設置法の「調査・研究」を根拠とする

 

・護衛艦1隻が来年2月上旬に出航。1月に日本を出発する哨戒機部隊が新任務を兼ねる。要員は約260人

 

・派遣期間は1年間。延長の場合は再度、閣議決定を行う

 

・閣議決定後と活動終了後に国会報告を行う

 

・不測の事態が生じた場合は武器使用も伴う海上警備行動を発令

 

・活動範囲はオマーン湾、アラビア海北部、バベルマンデブ海峡東側のアデン湾の公海

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20191227/k00/00m/010/036000c.amp

 

The (two) P-3Cs have departed as planned and their mission is to start on January 20th.

 

 

 

The destroyer that will depart early next month is JS Takanami. Some close up views of the warship.

Edited January 12, 2020 by JasonJ

[Burncycle360]

Another Tanker on fire in the gulf off the coast of the UAE, unknown details.

 

https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1222559851190083587

Edited January 29, 2020 by Burncycle360

[JasonJ]

Another Tanker on fire in the gulf off the coast of the UAE, unknown details.

 

https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1222559851190083587

Some more on that tanker:

 

 

Dubai: Two Indian sailors were killed and several others are reported missing after a Panamanian-flagged tanker caught fire off the UAE’s coast on Wednesday, a media report said on Friday.

 

The Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport said the fire broke out on board the tanker 21 miles off the UAE coast on Wednesday evening was quickly brought under control by fire-fighters, the Khaleej Times reported.

 

Efforts are on to trace the missing persons, it said.

 

“Rescue and emergency response teams provided relief to the crew after they received a distress call and rescued the tanker’s crew,” the Authority said in a statement.

 

The daily quoting sources reported that the tanker had around 55 people on board, including 12 crew members at the time of the accident.

 

Two Indians died in the fire while two others are reported to be critical. Another 10 are said to be missing, the report said.

https://telanganatoday.com/two-indian-sailors-killed-several-missing-in-tanker-fire-off-uae-coast

[Adam Peter]

That's a lot of non-crew on a non-cruise ship. Smuggled oil and coast guards?

Edited January 31, 2020 by Adam Peter

[JasonJ]

JS Takanami departed today a little before 11:00AM.

 

 

 

中東地域への派遣命令を受け、海上自衛隊の護衛艦「たかなみ」が2日午前、神奈川県の横須賀基地を出港した。

護衛艦「たかなみ」は、中東海域で日本に関係する船舶の安全確保のため、情報収集の任務を担う。

出港にあたり、安倍首相や河野防衛相が、防弾ガラスの設置など派遣に向けた改修を終えた艦内を視察し、隊員を激励した。

安倍首相「これらの海域は、わが国で消費する原油の約9割が通過する。船舶運航関係者、日本企業、そして国民が、諸官の活動と『たかなみ』のプレゼンスを大変心強く思っています」

隊員208人を乗せた「たかなみ」は、家族らに見送られ、午前11時前に出港した。

現地ですでに活動を始めているP-3C哨戒機の部隊とともに、2月下旬に任務に就く予定。

https://www.fnn.jp/posts/00431407CX/202002021229_CX_CX

 

Three more images in the spoiler

 

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/Alsace_class/status/1223794578005774336

[JasonJ]

EMASOH has began operation.

 

The European-led mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH) is now operational, the French Ministry of Armed Forces stated yesterday. The EMASOH headquarters, composed of Belgian, Danish, Dutch and French officers, is based at the French naval base in Abu Dhabi.

The Lafayette-class frigate Courbet is the first vessel involved in the operation. The ship will soon be joined by the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) frigate De Ruyter , which left Den Helder naval base on January 28 for the Strait of Hormuz. The RNLN will join the EMASOH starting mid-February.

EMASOH’s goals include an independent situational assessment, the monitoring of maritime activity, and to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Arabian Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

European vessels will safeguard the European countries interests in the Strait of Hormuz by enhancing maritime security, and thus contribute to regional de-escalation. The stakes are high since a third of the European needs in petroleum products transits through this strait, which separates Oman and Iran from 40 km.

The Danish contribution to the Strait of Hormuz will consist of a staff officer contribution for 12 months from the beginning of 2020 as well as – pending parliamentary approval – a naval contribution incl. a frigate, an helicopter and up to 155 personnel for 4 months from September 2020.

There is another, similar coalition lead by the United States: the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC). The IMSC was established to deter malign activity, promote maritime security and stability, and ensure freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce in international waters throughout the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Oman. Participants are the United States, Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/01/european-led-coalition-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-begins-operations/

[JasonJ]

JS Takanami finished the 1st deployment for the information gathering activities at the ME and will return to Japan on June 30th at Yokosuka.

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2020/press_pdf/p20200616_01.pdf

 

JS Kirisame departed from Sasebo on May 10th to carry out the 2nd deployment for information gathering activities at the ME.

https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/sf/news/W006H0001072.html

[Ivanhoe]

Any feedback/lessons learned by the fleet from global ops?

[JasonJ]

Any feedback/lessons learned by the fleet from global ops?

If answering from Japan's perspective. There's been no major news about anything eventful. But more specific details about JS Takanami's deployment will probably come out in promo video form and whatever else after it returns to Japan (June 30th). But a count on the number of ships observed is reported monthly as of now. In Jan/Feb, about 500 ships were observed. In March, about 2,700 ships were observed. In April, about 1,700 ships were observed. In May, 2,684 ships were observed.

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2020/press_pdf/p20200313_03.pdf

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2020/press_pdf/p20200408_05.pdf

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2020/press_pdf/p20200507_01.pdf

https://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2020/press_pdf/p20200602_01.pdf

 

That is about the information gathering mission which was as a response to the Japanese tanker being hit by a missile or something. As posted before, it'll go on for a full year (thus by December) with option to renew the activities.

 

But, as may be known, Japan has had anti-piracy mission going on since 2009: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%82%A2%E6%B2%96%E6%B5%B7%E8%B3%8A%E3%81%AE%E5%AF%BE%E7%AD%96%E9%83%A8%E9%9A%8A%E6%B4%BE%E9%81%A3

 

Here are a couple of bland promo videos, but still with a little footage of the 31st and 34th anti-piracy deployments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7gvpklalH8&t=185s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjVR7dAID2k

 

JS Oonami is currently on the 36th deployment of the anti-piracy mission. So with both missions going, at anytime there are two JMSDF destroyers in the ME region, along with two P-3C aircraft, although still away from the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

 

 

 

South Korea has an anti-piracy mission ongoing since 2009 as well, using a unit called the Cheonghae Unit. It's currently on its 32nd deployment with ROKS Dae Joyoung.

https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%86%8C%EB%A7%90%EB%A6%AC%EC%95%84%20%ED%95%B4%EC%97%AD%ED%98%B8%EC%86%A1%EC%A0%84%EB%8C%80

[Stuart Galbraith]

https://news.usni.org/2020/10/21/russian-navy-seen-escorting-iranian-tankers-bound-for-syria

Last week, the Iranian-flagged oil tanker Samah entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. After a few miles, the 900-foot-long ship stopped reporting its position and destination. Evidence suggests the ship sailed to Syria, escorted by two Russian Navy ships, including a destroyer.

Russia’s role in protecting the shipment may change the dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean. In the past, Iranian tankers sailing to Syria have been intercepted by the U.K. Royal Navy. The Russian Navy escort could be viewed as a precautionary step, raising the political and military risks of any intervention by the Royal Navy or others.

Last July, an Iranian tanker destined for Syria, Adrian Darya-1, was seized by U.K. Royal Marines off Gibraltar. The British accused Iran of supplying Syria with oil in contravention of European Union sanctions. Iran quickly seized a British-flagged tanker in a likely retaliatory move. Eventually, in September, Adrian Darya-1 was released by a local court with the assurance that it would not deliver its oil to Syria – but days later, it transshipped its oil in Syrian waters.

Samah has taken the shorter Suez Canal route, avoiding the Strait of Gibraltar. According to data provided by MarineTraffic.com, after exiting the Suez Canal Samah disappeared from automated identification system tracking. AIS is a system used to alert ships of each other’s presence and is required to be used by ships of this size. Other ships in the vicinity remained visible on AIS, which implies that Samah deliberately stopped broadcasting. This is termed going “dark.”

At the same time, the Russian Navy ship Akademik Pashin was heading south from the Syrian Coast toward the Suez. The two ships likely met on Oct. 14, since the next day they were seen together by a passing commercial satellite, heading north towards Syria.

Accompanying them was a warship, believed to be the Udaloy-class destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov. They were seen traveling in loose formation, with Akademiks Pashin leading the way and the destroyer in rear guard, according to open-source intelligence analyst Frank Bottema.

 

The cynic in me wonders who will end up towing whom, but that is probably very mean of me.

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Date 20.11.2020

Iran detains Panama tanker over alleged oil smuggling

Iran's Revolutionary Guard took control of a Panama-flagged oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and detained 10 crewmembers. The Iranian authorities claim the vessel was transporting 300 tons of illegal oil.

Ten sailors were arrested after Iranian authorities detained an oil tanker on suspicion of oil smuggling, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported on Friday, citing Iran's Farsi news agency.

Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard took control of a Panama-flagged vessel in the Persian Gulf, according to a Revolutionary Guard spokesman. The ship was allegedly transporting 300 tons of illegal oil,

The detained crew members, described as foreign nationals, were delivered to the prosecutor's office in the port city of Parsian. The spokesman did not provide details on the men's nationalities.

The latest news comes over a year after Iran allowed the British-flagged Stena Impero tanker to leave port. Previously, the UK seized an Iranian-flagged tanker near Gibraltar, accusing the crew of violating EU sanctions on Syria. Iran then seized Stena Impero, prompting a months-long standoff and angering London and the UK's Western allies. Eventually, France and several other EU countries set up a naval mission to improve security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran also seized several other vessels, one of them a Panama-flagged tanker, on suspicion of smuggling oil to its neighbors, including Arab states.

https://www.dw.com/en/iran-detains-panama-tanker-over-alleged-oil-smuggling/a-55682475

[JasonJ]

On 12/27/2019 at 6:07 PM, JasonJ said:

The Japanese cabinet passed the JMSDF dispatch plan. The dispatch will be of about 260 personnel using 1 destroyer and P-3C. The mission will be one year long and ends next year on December 26th although the mission can be renewed for another year. The P-3C will depart on January 11th and first head to an originally scheduled mission of anti-piracy patrol to Djbouti. The destroyer will depart in early February and then arrive and begin its mission in late February, at which time the P-3C will link up with the destroyer. Their patroling area is restricted to the Sea of Oman, the northern part of the Arabian Sea, and east of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. In consideration of Iran, waters that border it such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are not included. The dispatch will have the ability to shoot in order to protect Japanese vessels. While the JMSDF will not partcipate in the US-led initiative, information will be shared with US naval command based in Bahrain.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20191227/k00/00m/010/036000c.amp

 

The mission has been renewed for another year so it'll end on 2021, Dec 26th.

https://www.kanaloco.jp/news/government/article-331997.html

Edited December 11, 2020 by JasonJ

[Stuart Galbraith]

An oil Tanker off the coast of Jeddah accidentally for no suspicious reason at all blows up.

Oil tanker off Saudi Arabia damaged by explosion from ‘external source’ (msn.com)

 

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Iraq explosives experts working to defuse mine on oil tanker

today

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi explosives experts were working to defuse a large mine discovered on an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and evacuate its crew, authorities said Friday.

The statement came a day after two private security firms said sailors feared they had found a limpet mine on the MT Pola, a Liberian-flagged tanker in the waters off the Iraqi port of Basra. A limpet mine is a type of naval mine that attaches to the side of a ship, usually by a diver-member of special forces. It later explodes, and can significantly damage a vessel.

The Iraqi statement said the mine had been attached to a tanker rented from Iraq’s Oil Marketing Company SOMO that was refueling another vessel. Iraq’s naval forces were making “a great effort to accomplish the mission” safely, said Iraq’s Security Media Cell, which is affiliated with the country’s security forces.

It was the first official Iraqi confirmation that a mine was discovered on an Iraqi tanker transferring fuel in the Persian Gulf to another vessel. It did not identify either vessels or provide more details.

The discovery came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. in the waning days of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Already, America has conducted B-52 bomber flyovers and sent a nuclear submarine into the Persian Gulf over what Trump officials describe as the possibility of an Iranian attack on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. drones strike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general and a top Iraqi militia leader.

Iraq is marking the anniversary with a series of events this week.

[...]

https://apnews.com/article/persian-gulf-tensions-baghdad-iraq-middle-east-e802d8c717e4a9b37025bc4d9dbf073b

[JasonJ]

Iran seized a South Korean tanker.

Quote

WASHINGTON -- The US State Department on Monday called on Iran to immediately release a South Korea-flagged tanker it detained.

The State Department argued Iran's detention of the South Korean tanker may be part of an attempt to force the international community to remove its sanctions on the country.

 

"The United States is tracking reports that the Iranian regime has detained a Republic of Korea-flagged tanker," a department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency, referring to South Korea by its official name.

 

"The regime continues to threaten navigational rights and freedoms in the Persian Gulf as part of a clear attempt to extort the international community into relieving the pressure of sanctions. We join the Republic of Korea's call for Iran to immediately release the tanker," the spokesperson added, while asking not to be identified.

 

The remarks came hours after the Seoul government said the tanker, MT Hankuk Chemi, has been seized by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps for allegedly polluting waters off Iran.

Iran has since reportedly claimed the seizure was purely "technical" and that the issue would be dealt with by Iran's judicial officials.

 

The South Korean owner of the ship says the ship was sailing in international waters when it was seized. (Yonhap)

http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210105000091

[JasonJ]

This article has more surrounding information about the seizure.

Quote

 

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- Iran's abrupt seizure of a South Korean-flagged oil tanker this week appears aimed at pressuring Seoul to unlock its financial assets frozen under U.S. sanctions amid its worsening economic woes and the COVID-19 scourge, analysts said Tuesday.

The Islamic Republic might also intend to send a warning to South Korea and other U.S. allies that have followed U.S. sanctions and assert its maritime presence in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically crucial waterway in the Middle East, they added.

On Monday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps seized the tanker, MT Hankuk Chemi, in the Persian Gulf reportedly due to environmental pollution by the ship. It has been taken to an Iranian port for examinations, though the ship's operator denies it polluted waters.

The oil tanker, which was travelling from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates, was carrying 20 crewmembers -- 11 Myanmarese, five South Koreans, two Indonesians and two Vietnamese.

"For Iran, there could be a motive for the seizure, though facts related to what happened have yet to be clarified," Park Wong-gon, professor of international politics at Handong Global University, said.

"The assets frozen in Korea are obviously huge, particularly when Iran has been facing serious economic pressure due to sanctions. In other words, Iran appears to have a resolve to clarify its position regarding the assets," he added.

Iran's assets at two Korean bank accounts known to be worth around US$7 billion in total have been frozen since September 2019, when Washington's sanctions waiver for South Korea's imports of Iranian oil expired.

The two countries had used the accounts based on the Korean currency of the won to continue Korea's imports of oil and its exports of goods to Iran despite U.S. sanctions banning dollar-based transactions with the Islamic republic.

Due to the economic challenges caused by crippling sanctions and the fallout of the new coronavirus, Iran has been stepping up calls for Korea to unlock the frozen assets and pave the way for its purchase of essential items such as medicine.

With little progress in Iran's push to regain the assets, speculation emerged that Iran could even threaten to bring the case to the International Court of Justice in a procedure that could deal a serious blow to bilateral trade ties.

To address Tehran's frustration, South Korea has been trying to figure out a way to ramp up humanitarian trade with Iran without violating U.S. sanctions. But that effort floundered amid tensions between Washington and Tehran, particularly ahead of last year's U.S. presidential election.

"Due to hard cash shortages, Iran might have intended to poke South Korea and add pressure to move forward negotiations over the frozen assets," Nam Chang-hee, professor of diplomacy at Inha University, said.

"Stressing its longstanding history of exchanges with South Korea dating back to an ancient time, Tehran has hoped Seoul would look at it separately from its alliance partnership with Washington," he added.

Some observers presumed that the seizure might be intended to a certain extent to send a warning message against American allies that have joined U.S. sanctions to the detriment of its economic recovery, particularly reminding them that Iran holds significant control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Considering that Korea is a staunch American ally, analysts also raised speculation that the seizure could send some message to Washington at a time of high tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

The seizure coincided with growing anti-American sentiment in Iran as the Iranians marked the first anniversary of the death of a top general who was killed in a U.S. drone attack under the Trump administration.

Tensions also rose as Iran reportedly began enriching uranium up to 20 percent at an underground facility in a step that moved farther away from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal that the U.S. withdrew from in 2018.

The seizure came as a surprise as South Korea is seeking to send First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun to Tehran to help address the frozen asset issue, according to a source. Seoul is still seeking a diplomatic solution for the release of the ship and its crew.

"We have been trying to figure out what happened through the Iranian Embassy in South Korea and the South Korean Embassy in Iran and continuing to make efforts to address this situation," Foreign Minister Kang told reporters.

On Tuesday, Koh Kyung-sok, director-general of the foreign ministry's African and Middle Eastern affairs, met with Iranian Ambassador Saeed Badamchi Shabestari and called for an early release of the ship.

Before the meeting, the ambassador told reporters that there is "nothing to worry" about in regards to the health of the sailors of the seized ship.

With the incoming U.S. administration of Joe Biden expected to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal and put Tehran back into compliance, a glimmer of hope emerged that Seoul's ties with Tehran could get better.

"When the Biden administration kicks in, dialogue with Iran could likely resume. Thus chances of the current situation between the two countries slipping into a crisis is not that high," Professor Park said.

"Iran is also well aware that the asset freeze is not because of South Korea's policy and that it does not need to provoke Korea further," he added.

 

https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210105004451325?section=national/diplomacy

[JasonJ]

And probably worth including that Iranian oil exports probably increased a lot in September 2020 by means of getting around US sanctions.

Quote

 

Iran is estimated to have exported nearly 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and condensate so far in September, TankerTrackers told Reuters, in what would be the highest level of Iranian exports in a year and a half and double the observed exports in August.  

Two other tanker-tracking firms have also seen an increase in Iranian oil exports so far in September, although not as much as TankerTrackers.com has found, according to Reuters. 

Since the U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran’s oil industry and exports in May 2018, the Islamic Republic has been using various tactics to ship crude abroad without being detected, including by tankers switching off transponders or documents stating the oil does not originate from Iran. 

Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said earlier this week that “America has waged a war against Iran with no blood,” referring to the sanctions on Iran’s oil. 

Iran continues to export oil in defiance of the U.S. sanctions, and it seems to have recently increased its oil exports despite the fact that official figures still put the shipments at very low levels. 

China, for example, the world’s largest oil importer, is likely receiving much more oil from Iran than the official figures report, according to various reports, media investigations, and tanker-tracking firms. 

In August, Iran was exporting a lot more crude oil than U.S. figures suggest, data from TankerTrackers.com has revealed, as reported by NBC News.

According to the data, Iran was exporting as much as 600,000 bpd, using ship-to-ship transfers with transponders turned off to avoid detection, skirting U.S. sanctions. The daily average number compares with an estimate of 227,000 bpd made in a U.S. Congressional report, NBC’s Raf Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

Last year, a U.S. State Department official told the media that the department was tracking ship-to-ship transfers and was working with other governments to ensure that they, too, were tracking such moves that became one of few ways for Iran to still get its crude to foreign markets.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Iran-Significantly-Boosts-Oil-Exports-Despite-Sanctions.amp.htm

[JasonJ]

Iran still holding the ROK ship and its captain. The rest of the crew were released from custody in February but some still in Iran for the ship's maintanence. It's reported that the captain and ship might be released next week.

Quote

 

Iran is likely to release a seized South Korean oil tanker and its captain as early as next week, a diplomatic source said Friday, noting "considerable progress" in the negotiations to end nearly three months of the seizure.

In early January, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps seized the vessel, MT Hankuk Chemi, and its 20-member crew over alleged oil pollution. In February, the Iranian authorities agreed to set free all sailors except for the captain for the ship's management.

"I understand that there has been considerable progress in negotiations with Iran over the seizure issue," the source told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity. "MT Hankuk Kemi and its captain are likely to be released in the near future."

At the time of the seizure, the vessel was carrying 20 crewmembers -- 11 Myanmarese, five Koreans, two Indonesians and two Vietnamese.

Of them, only the South Korean captain remains in custody while the others are still in Iran for the maintenance of the vessel or have left the country.

It remains unknown why Iran agreed to release the ship and its captain, but speculation has emerged that Seoul and Tehran might have made headway in addressing the Middle Eastern country's call to unlock its funds -- worth US$7 billion -- frozen in Korea under U.S. sanctions.

The two countries have been consulting over how to release part of Iran's funds through a Swiss humanitarian trade arrangement designed to facilitate the flow of humanitarian goods to the Iranians.

Speculation has persisted that the seizure is linked to Iran's anger over the frozen funds. Tehran denies the speculation, stressing that it was purely a technical issue. (Yonhap)

 

http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210402000846

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Date 09.04.2021

Iran-seized South Korean ship, captain released, Seoul says

The Hankuk Chemi oil tanker was seized by Iranian authorities in early January. South Korea said the ship's captain and crew are in good health.

Iranian authorities released the South Korean ship Hankuk Chemi and its captain, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The oil tanker had been seized by Iranian forces in January near the Strait of Hormuz, as the vessel was traveling from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates.

"The captain and sailors are in good health and it's been confirmed the ship and its cargoes had no problems," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The ship departed Iran after completing administrative procedures."

Tehran had announced it would release the ship earlier in the week, but Seoul previously said the multinational crew of more than 20 sailors was still on board the vessel. Iranian leaders have claimed they stopped the ship because of "environmental pollution," but the vessel's owners have rejected these accusations.

Was the ship's seizure an extortion attempt by Iran?

The seizure of the ship may be an extortion attempt by Tehran to pressure Seoul into releasing billions of dollars in South Korean banks that are frozen due to US sanctions. Iranian government spokesperson Ali Rabiei has said $7 billion (€5.8 billion) in Iranian funds are tied up in the South Korean financial system due to the sanctions.

Iran was previously a steady supplier of oil to South Korea until former US President Donald Trump's administration cracked down on the purchases. Tehran has denied any connection between the ship's seizure and its trapped funds in South Korea.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry did not mention the Iranian funds in its statement on the ship's release. Seoul had previously offered to release the funds, pending US approval.

Could the ship's release be an attempt by Iran to influence ongoing nuclear talks?

The release of the ship comes as Iranian leaders and representatives from major world powers such as the US continue negotiations Friday on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna. The US withdrew from the deal in 2018 under Trump, but current US President Joe Biden has expressed willingness to rejoin the agreement if Iran stops its enrichment of uranium.

Iran is pushing for the US to lift sanctions from its economy as part of the negotiations. The sanctions have crippled Iran's economy and severed its connection to the global financial system.

https://www.dw.com/en/iran-seized-south-korean-ship-captain-released-seoul-says/a-57139774