South Korean says it received report on handover of oil tanker's crew after incident

An oil tanker is seen after it was attacked at the Gulf of Oman, in waters between Gulf Arab states and Iran, June 13. Reuters-Yonhap

Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. said Saturday it was unaware that a cargo ship it had chartered rescued crew members of a Norwegian tanker that was on fire in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week until after the incident.

The Hyundai Dubai rescued 23 sailors from the Norwegian tanker Front Altair, Thursday, after receiving a distress call, and then handed them over to Iranian authorities.

CBS News said the captain of the Hyundai Dubai "contacted his company's management, which told him to refuse the Iranian request (to turn over the mariners)," but handed them over as "he felt like he had no choice but to comply with Iranian demands," citing declassified U.S. intelligence reports Friday.

An official of the South Korean shipping firm said the company that the captain contacted could have been the ship owner headquartered in Germany, not Hyundai.

In this file photo taken on April 30, 2019, Iranian soldiers take part in "National Persian Gulf Day" in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran dismissed as "baseless," June 14, U.S. accusations that it had carried out twin attacks that left two tankers ablaze in the Gulf of Oman, escalating tensions across the region and sending world oil prices soaring. AFP-Yonhap

"Hyundai Dubai reported that it was heading to rescue the crew in compliance with international regulations and that it turned over 23 crewmembers to the Iranian Navy after the incident," the official said.

"The company that the Hyundai Dubai captain contacted was not Hyundai Merchant Marine as far as I know," the official added.

The Front Altair is one of two oil tankers that were hit by suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman on the day. It was on fire after three explosions were heard, Hyundai Merchant Marine said.

The sailors, mostly from Russia and the Philippines, were taken to Iran where they remain in custody, according to Reuters, Friday. (Yonhap)

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