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Vessel Seized Near UAE, Heads for Iran
14 May
Summary
- Unauthorised personnel boarded a vessel anchored northeast of Fujairah.
- The ship is reportedly heading towards Iranian territorial waters.
- Contact was lost after the vessel stopped transmitting its position.
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, a vessel anchored northeast of the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah port was boarded by unauthorized personnel. The incident occurred 38 nautical miles from the coast and was reported at 05:45 GMT.
The vessel is believed to be the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan fishery research vessel. Its company security officer reported that Iranian personnel took control while it was at anchor.
Following the boarding, the vessel began heading towards Iranian territorial waters. Contact with the ship was lost, and it ceased transmitting its location via the Automated Identification System (AIS).
This event comes amid ongoing conflicts, with Iran having seized at least two other vessels since February 28, 2026. The vessel was last observed in the Gulf of Oman, within Iran's Exclusive Economic Zone, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
