‘You gave clearance… now you are firing… let me turn back’: Hormuz distress call caught on tape | India News

New Delhi: “Iranian Navy, Iranian Navy. I will change to starboard and return, I will change to starboard and return, do not fire…Sepa Navy, Sepa Navy, Motor Tanker Sanmar Herald. Sepa Navy, you gave me the clearance, you gave me the clearance to go. My name is second on your list, you have given me permission to go. You are firing now, let me go back.” The distress call by the captain of the Indian-flagged oil tanker Sanmar Herald clearly captured the confusion created by the firing in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran overshadowed the ceasefire and reimposed restrictions on shipping through the strait. In a two-minute audio recording on Channel 16, the international marine radio frequency dedicated to emergency, distress, safety and calls, the Indian ship’s captain appealed to the Iranian navy not to fire and promised to go back. Meanwhile, another video recording of a radio communication captured and shared on social media showed the Indian cargo ship Bhagya Lakshmi approaching the strait from UAE waters when it was intercepted. Social media posts show an IRGC operator telling the crew, “The Strait of Hormuz is blocked and you are not allowed there. You are ordered to return to your exit immediately.” Members of the Iranian Navy also asked the captain to wait for permission. According to maritime traffic data, no ships had crossed the critical global energy choke point as of Sunday evening. An Indian very large crude carrier (VLCC) Sumner Herald and another bulk carrier Jag Arnav returned to the Persian Gulf after a gunshot incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz and no crew injuries were reported, the shipping ministry said on Sunday.