By Maggie Johnson
January 26, 2025
Image Credit: “M.S.A.I on Twitter “#IRGC’s Great Prophet 14th Exercise a summary,” available at Yahoo Images (01/26/2025).
On January 24, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship was reportedly approached by a small military vessel in the Persian Gulf during Iran’s Great Prophet XVIII naval exercise. The approaching craft, in a potentially dangerous move, directed a green laser at the ship’s bridge and allegedly attempted to redirect it toward Iranian territorial waters.
The vessel involved, believed to be the Liberty Power, a 46,600 DWT Ro-Ro/container ship operated by Liberty Maritime, had departed Shuaiba, Kuwait, on January 23. Although Splash247 initially reported this information, it has not been independently confirmed, leaving some uncertainty in the situation. Liberty Maritime, based in the U.S., acquired the vessel in 2022 and it participates in the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Security Program.
“This incident aligns with a broader pattern,” stated the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), which monitors maritime security through a coalition of 46 nations. The organization has recorded multiple similar interactions in the Persian Gulf during the ongoing Iranian military exercises, highlighting the need for a long-term solution to this issue.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported several incidents in the Northern Arabian Gulf, including VHF radio challenges demanding course alterations. These encounters are suspected to be linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) maneuvers, which Iranian media has widely publicized.
In light of these events, JMIC has advised heightened security measures and emphasized the importance of maintaining active AIS (Automatic Identification System) operations in compliance with IMO SOLAS regulations.
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