‘You’ve given the go-ahead…now you’re going to open fire…let me go back’: Hormuz distress signal recorded

New Delhi: “Iranian Navy, Iranian Navy. I will turn to starboard and return, I will turn to starboard and return, do not fire… Sepa Navy, Sepa Navy, motor tanker Sanmar Herald.” Sepa Navy, you gave me permission, you gave me permission to leave. My name was second on your list and you gave me permission to leave. You’re shooting now, let me go back. ” The distress call sent by the captain of the Indian-flagged oil tanker Sanmar Herald vividly reflected the chaos caused by the shooting in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as Iran reimposed traffic restrictions, casting a pall on the ceasefire and ship movements through the strait. Channel 16, an international maritime radio frequency dedicated to emergency, distress, safety and calls, played a recording of more than two minutes in which the captain of the Indian ship appealed to the Iranian navy not to open fire and promised to return. Meanwhile, another video of radio communications shared on social media showed the Indian cargo ship Bhagya Laxmi being intercepted as it approached the strait from UAE waters. Social media posts show an Iranian Revolutionary Guard operator telling the crew, “The Strait of Hormuz is blocked and no permission is given to you. You are ordered to return to the place of departure immediately.” Iranian naval personnel also told the captain to wait for permission. As of Sunday evening, no ships had crossed the key global energy bottleneck, according to maritime traffic data. No injuries were reported as an Indian very large crude carrier (VLCC) Samnar Herald and another bulk carrier Jag Arnav returned to the Persian Gulf after a fire incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, India’s shipping ministry said on Sunday.