‘Floating armoury’ seized and heading towards Iran
Vessel was at anchor before ‘unauthorised personnel’ took it away
A suspected floating armoury anchored near the southern entrance of the Strait of Hormuz has been snatched and is heading towards Iranian waters, according to reports.
The vessel, identified by security firm Vanguard as the 794-gt Hui Chuan (built 1984), was taken by “unauthorised personnnel” while the ship was 38 nautical miles (70 km) north-east of Fujairah.
It was anchored in the middle of the southern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and is described by maritime databases as a “fishing support” or a “fishery patrol” vessel.
The chief security officer for the vessel said that it had been operating as a floating armoury, said Vanguard.
The Hui Chuan is flying the flag of Honduras and is registered under a Marshall Islands-based entity, SG Navigation Ltd.
SG Navigation is also the owner of the 246-dwt fishing vessel Sunny Ocean (built 1993).
The Sunny Ocean was identified by intelligence company Pole Star Global as a floating armoury owned by Chinese security company Sinoguards and operating in the Red Sea in 2024.
The Sinoguards website says the company provides a “full range of maritime security services for vessels during their transits through Indian Ocean, Gulf of Guinea and any other risky waters”.
The company, which has offices in China, South Korea and Canada, has been contacted for comment.
Floating armouries are used to store weapons offshore used by private security companies that provide armed guards for ships.
https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/-floating-armoury-seized-and-heading-towards-iran/2-1-1989846
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