The Lloyd’s Register classed Desh Shanti was seized by the Iranian Navy on 13 August and since detained at Bandar Abbas port, charged with polluting Iranian waters with discharge of oily ballast water. The vessel has been subject to repeat inspections by Iranian officials, but so far only a minor fault in the vessel’s oil-leak control alarm system has been found. The vessel’s double hull is in good condition.
The vessel’s owner Shipping Corporation of India denies the allegations.
A team of surveyors from the Indian Register of Shipping have been dispatched to assist in the discovery of technical issues and secure the release of the ship, with LR’s own inspectors who are also expected to join the investigation.
The news comes in the wake of major reductions in shipments of crude oil to India from Iran following sanctions from the West. An Iranian vessel is also said to be under detention at Kandla port in Gujarat, according to a report by The Hindu.
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