Bandar Abbas

A merchant navy cadet from the St Nikolas tanker, which was seized by Iranian authorities last week, was repatriated on Friday.

The 19-year-old cadet returned to Greece via Dubai, accompanied by the Greek ambassador to Iran, Stylianos Gavril.

The Greek cadet who worked onboard St Nikolas, the Greek-owned oil tanker seized by the Iranian navy last week, is being repatriated, the ship's managing company, Empire Navigation said Thursday.

The 19-year-old trainee captain will return to Greece accompanied by the Greek ambassador to Iran.

The Greek Foreign Ministry is making high-level contacts to secure the release of the Greek cadet captain who was one of 19 crew members aboard the Greek-owned tanker St Nikolas when it was seized by an Iranian army unit in the Red Sea last week.

According to reports, the Greek ambassador issued an official appeal to Tehran for the cadet captain's quick release.

A correspondent on-site in Iran visited the Greek-owned oil tanker St Nikolas, confirming the crew's safety, after the vessel was seized on Thursday by the Iranian navy, as was announced by its managing company, Greek-based Empire Navigations on Monday.  

All crew members of the Greek-owned oil tanker St Nikolas, which was seized on Thursday by the Iranian navy, anchored in Bandar Abbas, Iran, are reported to be in good health and safe, as was announced by the vessel's management company Empire Navigation. 

Greek shipping company Empire Navigation confirmed their well-being after contacting Iranian authorities. 

The Greek-owned tanker St Nikolas, sailing under a Marshall Islands flag, that was seized by a group of five gunmen off the coast of Oman on Thursday has now anchored at the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran, sources said on Friday.

The Greek Foreign Ministry has assumed responsibility for ensuring the safety and repatriation of a Greek national who is part of the tanker's crew.

At least five people were killed and 19 injured when a strong earthquake shook southern Iran early on July 2, the state news agency IRNA reported.

The 6.0 magnitude quake hit 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of the port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, the US Geological Survey said. The quake struck just a minute after a 5.7 tremor.

The positions of the two Greek tankers that have been seized by the Iranian authorities were announced by the website TankerTrackers.com.

The Greek tanker Prudent Warrior is anchored in the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran, while the Delta Poseidon is located north of the island of Larak, according to a post by TankerTrackers.com on Twitter.

A magnitude 5 earthquake was recorded this morning in the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan, about 125 km west of the port city of Bandar Abbas, at a depth of 10 km, Reuters and the Associated Press reported.

There is no evidence of damage or casualties.

According to Iranian state television, the quake had a 5,3 magnitude. According to US seismologists - 5.3.

Photo: Al-Alam

American commanders should not underestimate the capabilities of the Iranian Navy, said Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, promising to let his fleet set sail for the western part of the Atlantic in the near future.