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Arms-carrying ship reportedly seized by Iran

2026-05-14 16:12:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

A ship that was reportedly operating as a "floating weapons depot" in the Gulf of Oman has been seized by Iranian military personnel, according to maritime risk management company Vanguard.

The ship is now "destined for Iranian territorial waters," the United Kingdom's Merchant Marine Operations (UKMTO) said.

BBC Verify has checked ship tracking data from MarineTraffic, which shows that the vessel - identified by Vanguard as the Honduran-flagged Hui Chuan - last transmitted its location 70km (40 miles) northeast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.

Hui Chuan operators told Vanguard that it was operating as a floating arsenal storing weapons for security firms that protect ships at sea from pirate attacks.

BBC Verify cannot confirm what was on the ship or who used it.

The BBC has previously reported how these ships are stationed in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman so that security guards can easily collect and deliver weapons and ammunition.

Location data shows that the ship has spent the last month near the northeastern coasts of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The apparent seizure of the Hui Chuan comes after an Indian-flagged ship was attacked off the coast of Oman on Wednesday, according to Indian officials.

The ship "Haji Ali" reportedly sank off the coast of Oman after a suspected explosion believed to have been caused by a "drone or missile," according to Vanguard.

"All Indian crew on board are safe and well and we thank the Omani authorities for their rescue," Indian authorities said on Thursday.

Ship tracking data from MarineTraffic shows that the 57-meter (187 ft) vessel departed from Berbera Port in Somalia on May 6. Its intended destination was Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, the Indian shipping ministry said.

The ship was transporting livestock "when a fire reportedly broke out on board, forcing the crew to abandon ship before it sank," Vanguard said.

Fourteen crew members were transferred by Omani Coast Guard units to the country's Diba Port, according to Indian officials.

India's Ministry of External Affairs called the attack "unacceptable."

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz was discussed during Thursday's talks between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, in Beijing.

The White House said Xi had "made clear China's opposition to the militarization of the Strait."

"Both sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy," according to a statement issued by the US after the meeting.