Iran fires upon, seizes Western cargo ship

[Balog]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102627185

U.S. defense officials said the ship was seized in the Strait of Hormuz and was under control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. They said that while the USS Farragut was headed toward the area, the U.S. destroyer has no authority to enter the territorial waters for any other purpose than "innocent passage" through the strait.

The Pentagon said the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris did not have any U.S. citizens aboard.

[RevDisk]

Flagged in the Marshall Islands. Iran allegedly had a court order and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization may have had monetary differences with the ship owner.

Could be a civil matter, could be Iran getting frisky.

[Scout26]

And just when they were doing well in "Civilized Nation" look-alike contest to get the sanctions lifted.   This will really help Obama with trying to sell his Iranian Nuke deal.

Here's hoping that it helps blow that up.  

[Balog]

Flagged in the Marshall Islands. Iran allegedly had a court order and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization may have had monetary differences with the ship owner.

Could be a civil matter, could be Iran getting frisky.

Are high seas civil court orders generally enforced by firing on the vessel? Serious question.

[Scout26]

Are high seas civil court orders generally enforced by firing on the vessel? Serious question.

Usually no, as firing on a vessel (especially an unarmed merchant ship) could be considered an act of war.   Firing across the bow to get them to "Heave-To" for an inspection, is okay. Boarding and inspecting (in your territorial waters) is okay.  A monetary dispute (with a court order) is usually handled through the banks.

IANAAL, perhaps one of our resident legal beagles can dredge up some vague memories of Admiralty Law from when they went to Law Scrule.  (It truly is a specialized area of practice.) 

[MillCreek]

^^^I remember something about fringe on the Flag.....

[lupinus]

^^^I remember something about fringe on the Flag.....

GOLD FRINGE!!!

[De Selby]

Are high seas civil court orders generally enforced by firing on the vessel? Serious question.

Dunno about the high seas, but in port you can get a warrant for the arrest of the vessel and nail it up on the mast.  Ships are liable for their debts and subject to arrest.

[HankB]

. . .  Iran allegedly had a court order . . .

Is this from the same court that routinely allows stoning of Christians, infidels, and apostates?

[roo_ster]

Is this from the same court that routinely allows stoning of Christians, infidels, and apostates?

I think those are short drop hanged.

Adulterers and rape victims are the ones stoned.

[birdman]

This is potentially (if we had a more ballsy POTUS) a "that was dumb, Iran" move, as under the Compact of Free Associatiom, the USA is responsible for the defense of the Marshall Islands (and their people/property) from foreign states.

ORA it's "smart Iran" knowing this, provoking on purpose, knowing we won't do jack.


But technically, for "do we defend it or not" it's more than a western ship, it's a "must be defended by the USA" ship...just like one flagged in the US.

[roo_ster]

Not interested in doing Israel's dirty work in/on Iran, but I have zero problem turning their ports and naval vessels and S/S missile sites into smoking ruins over this sort of thing.

Act civilized and no one cares if you have nukes.  Pee on the metaphorical rug and crap on your neighnors' metaphorical lawn and expect to get your ass beat with a metaphorical newspaper.