A vessel reportedly operating as a “floating armoury” in the Gulf of Oman has been seized by Iranian military personnel, according to maritime risk management firm Vanguard.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations organisation said the ship was “bound for Iranian territorial waters” after the reported boarding. The vessel has been identified by Vanguard as the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan.
Ship-tracking data reviewed by BBC Verify showed the vessel last broadcast its position about 70km, or 40 miles, north-east of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. That area sits near the approach to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes.
Vanguard said Hui Chuan’s operators described it as a floating armoury, a type of ship used to store weapons and ammunition for private maritime security teams that protect commercial vessels from piracy. BBC Verify said it could not confirm what was on board Hui Chuan or who was using it.
What is a floating armoury?
Floating armouries are used in parts of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman where armed maritime security teams may need to collect or return weapons while working at sea.
The arrangement allows security contractors to keep firearms offshore instead of moving them through ports, where local laws and procedures can be complicated. These vessels can also provide accommodation for guards between assignments.
Hui Chuan’s recent location history showed it had spent the past month off the north-east coasts of Oman and the UAE. Its reported seizure adds to concern about shipping security around the Strait of Hormuz, through which large volumes of global energy supplies pass.
Indian-flagged vessel attacked off Oman
The incident came after an Indian-flagged vessel, Haji Ali, was attacked off the coast of Oman on Wednesday, according to Indian officials.
Vanguard said the ship “reportedly sank” after a suspected explosion believed to have been caused by a drone or missile. Indian authorities said all Indian crew members on board were safe and thanked Omani authorities for rescuing them.
MarineTraffic data showed the 57m vessel had left Berbera Port in Somalia on 6 May and was bound for Sharjah in the UAE, according to India’s shipping ministry. Vanguard said the ship was carrying livestock when a fire reportedly broke out on board, forcing the crew to abandon ship before it sank.
Fourteen crew members were transferred by Oman Coast Guard units to Diba Port, according to Indian officials. That account has not been independently verified.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs called the attack “unacceptable”.
Diplomatic concern over the strait
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz was also discussed during talks on Thursday between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
According to a US readout of the meeting, the White House said Xi had “made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the Strait” and that both sides agreed the waterway should remain open to support the free flow of energy. That account has not been independently verified.
The reported seizure of Hui Chuan has not been publicly detailed by Iranian authorities in the available accounts. For now, maritime monitors are treating the incident as another sign of rising risk in waters already closely watched by commercial shippers and governments.