The Iran attack…Venezuela oil sanctions are back…decreased Russian oil trading…IUU fishing…

There was recently some volatility and noteworthy developments, as always. Check out the easily-digestible maritime global trade highlights and trends we are sharing this week, powered by Maritime AI™ insights.

Before diving deep, take a look at Windward’s refreshed homepage! 

The MSC Aries Seizure in the Strait of Hormuz

• The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the MSC Aries (IMO: 9857169), a 366-meter container vessel, while en-route to the Hormuz Strait on April 13. The IRGC claimed that the vessel was seized due to a link with Israel.
• The MSC Aries is owned by the British company “Zodiac Maritime Limited,” which is connected to Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
• Windward insights show that the vessel was seized after crossing the EEZ border between the UAE and Iran, at 25°39’40″N, 54°59’19″E, after the vessel made a port call at Port Khalifa, the UAE.

Optical satellite imagery shows that on April 14, a candidate vessel similar to the MSC Aries anchored at the Iranian EEZ, near the port waiting area of Bandar Abbas, at 27°0’50″N, 56°18’38″E.