NEW: Ship Probably Used As ‘Floating Armory’ Seized Close to Strait Of Hormuz
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported Thursday that a commercial vessel was boarded by unauthorized personnel while anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates near the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident took place approximately 38 nautical miles (70 kilometers) northeast of the UAE’s Fujairah oil export terminal. Following the boarding, the vessel was reported to be heading toward Iranian territorial waters, according to the UKMTO.
According to a report from the BBC, which cited maritime risk-management company Vanguard, the vessel was identified as as the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic confirmed the vessel’s last automatic identification system (AIS) broadcast position at roughly 70 km northeast of Fujairah on May 13. Location records further indicated that the Hui Chuan had been operating in waters off the northeast coasts of Oman and the UAE for the preceding month.
Vanguard reported that the ship’s operators stated the Hui Chuan was operating as a floating armory. The exact statement, as conveyed by the BBC, was that the vessel “stores weapons for security firms who protect ships at sea from attack by pirates.”
Floating armories are commercially operated vessels stationed in designated maritime areas to support private maritime security companies. They allow armed security personnel to embark and disembark firearms, ammunition, and related equipment in international waters, thereby complying with port and territorial regulations that restrict the movement of weapons.
Such vessels have operated for years in regions including the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and Gulf of Oman in response to piracy threats.
Reports from the BBC and other outlets attributed the seizure to Iranian military personnel. The UKMTO did not name the ship or specify the identity of those involved, referring only to “unauthorized personnel.” Authorities continued to investigate the incident as of Thursday afternoon.
Since February 2026, at least two other ships have been seized by Iranian regime forces. In April, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Panamanian-flagged vessels MSC Francesca and Epaminondes.
An Indian-flagged livestock carrier, the Haji Ali, was also attacked off the coast of Oman on May 13.
The vessel, which had departed Berbera Port in Somalia on May 6 and was bound for Sharjah in the UAE, reportedly sank after a suspected explosion and fire. Vanguard described the cause as possibly a drone or missile. All 14 Indian crew members were rescued by Omani coast guard units and transferred to Diba Port.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the attack as “unacceptable” and called for an investigation.
The Hui Chuan seizure was reported on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing. A U.S. readout from the meeting stated that the leaders “agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy.”
As of this report, no additional details on the Hui Chuan’s crew, cargo status, or official claims of responsibility had been released by Iranian authorities or international agencies. UKMTO and other maritime organizations have advised vessels operating in the area to maintain heightened vigilance.