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Crew aboard Iran-seized ship safe, investigation underway

Xinhua, April 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Danish shipping group A.P. Moeller-Maersk said Wednesday the crew of a cargo vessel seized by Iran were safe, while the Danish Foreign Ministry said it was working with the company to find solutions.

"We are working at full throttle to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Maersk Tigris and are in a dialogue with Maersk about the case," the Danish news agency, Ritzau, cited a statement by the ministry as reporting.

The ministry says it expects that Iran will honor its international obligations.

"It is our clear expectation that Iran will honor its international obligations and that the crew aboard Maersk Tigris will not be harmed," the ministry said in the statement.

On Tuesday, the Marshall Islands-flagged ship, operated by Singapore-based Rickmers Ship Management, was seized and boarded by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The vessel was carrying cargo for Maersk Line, the group's shipping unit which had chartered the ship.

"We are in ongoing contact with Rickmers Ship Management and are pleased to learn that the crew is safe and under the circumstances in good spirits," Maersk said in a statement, adding that it was not able to establish or confirm the reason behind the seizure at the moment.

"We should be careful about drawing conclusions before we know the actual circumstances of the case," the Danish foreign ministry also said. Endit