71 days: the inside story of the Stena Impero seizure

Stena Bulk chief executive Erik Hanell reveals the 'controlled chaos' and concerns behind the scenes as the Swedish shipowner's tanker became embroiled in the summer's simmering geopolitical tensions

10 October 2019 6:42 GMT Updated 10 October 2019 6:42 GMT

By Gary Dixon

in London

Erik Hanell took the call 10 minutes after leaving the Swedish company's office in Gothenburg on Friday, 19 July.

It was a member of technical manager Northern Marine's emergency team in Glasgow, saying Iranian authorities were approaching the 50,000-dwt MR tanker Stena Impero (built 2018) in the Strait of Hormuz.

Stena Impero timeline

11 July: Iran tries to seize BP tanker in retaliation for Grace 1 seizure in Gibraltar

19 July: Stena Impero boarded by Iranian forces

23 July: Stena still awaiting permission to visit seized crew

25 July: UK commits to escorting its ships through Middle East Gulf

25 July: Stena in direct talks with Iranian authorities

15 August: Gibraltar court allows release of Grace 1

21 August: Stena Bulk chief executive Erik Hanell meets Iranian...