A vessel used as a “floating arsenal” by private maritime security companies in the Gulf of Oman has reportedly been seized by the Iranian Navy and redirected toward Iranian territorial waters.
The information was reported by the BBC, citing maritime risk management company Vanguard.
The vessel involved is the “Hui Chuan,” sailing under the Honduran flag. According to operators, the ship was being used as a storage platform for ammunition and military equipment supporting private security firms that protect commercial vessels from piracy.
Iranian authorities have not yet released official information regarding the people onboard or the cargo carried by the vessel. However, such “floating arsenal” ships are commonly used in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Gulf of Oman regions.
According to Vanguard, vessels like Hui Chuan serve not only as storage facilities for weapons and equipment but also as temporary accommodation and crew rotation hubs for private maritime security personnel.
The company added that the incident occurred shortly after the Indian-flagged merchant vessel “Haji Ali” was attacked and sunk off the coast of Oman.
