Iran halts Bangladeshi vessel Joyjatra in Hormuz despite reopening announcement
The vessel, along with other commercial ships, proceeded towards the strait without formal clearance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
A Bangladesh-flagged vessel has once again been stopped in the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran's announcement of reopening the key shipping route to commercial traffic.
According to officials, MV Banglar Joyjatra, operated by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), lifted anchor around 9pm on Friday (17 April) from near Sharjah port and began heading towards Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates after Tehran declared the strait open.
The vessel, along with other commercial ships, proceeded towards the strait without formal clearance from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
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It entered the Strait of Hormuz around 11:50pm and was expected to cross into the Gulf of Oman by around 3am today (18 April). However, at approximately 12:30am, Iranian naval authorities issued a radio message ordering all vessels to stop engines and halt movement, warning that no ship would be allowed to pass without IRGC approval.
Confirming the development to The Business Standard, BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek said, "This is very unfortunate. As there was no response after seeking permission, we assumed the strait had been opened. Around 40 commercial vessels started moving towards Hormuz, and Joyjatra followed them."
He added, "The vessel entered Hormuz at 11:50pm and could have crossed by early morning. But suddenly, at around 12:30am, the Iranian navy instructed all ships to stop and warned that crossing without IRGC clearance would not be allowed."
"Joyjatra is now waiting in the strait for permission. If clearance is granted, it will proceed. Otherwise, it may have to return to Sharjah," he said.
Earlier, following Iran's reopening announcement, BSC had instructed the vessel to prepare for departure and seek formal clearance before proceeding to Fujairah for bunkering. "Once clearance is granted, the ship will cross Hormuz and proceed," Malek said.
The vessel, carrying 31 crew members, had been stranded in the region for around 40 days amid tensions in the Middle East.
On 8 April, after a US-announced ceasefire, it departed Ras Al Khair port in Saudi Arabia but was denied passage near Hormuz on 10 April, forcing it to return and take shelter near Sharjah.
