Eritrean naval incident: Inspection docs set for release of Azerbaijani vessels

The documentation necessary for the inspection of three vessels owned by Caspian Marine Services B.V., a branch based in Azerbaijan, which are currently detained in Eritrean waters, is nearing finalisation.

In a statement released by the company, it was revealed that following negotiations, authorised representatives have been appointed to liaise with Eritrean authorities to resolve the situation, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"The paperwork for the inspection and release of the vessels is almost complete," the company explained. "Our representatives are in direct communication with the crew members, and there are no issues regarding food supplies or other essential provisions."

The company also assured that the crew members have been provided with all necessary technical support, allowing them to stay in regular contact with their families during this period.

The vessels in question — CMS Pəhləvan, CMS İgid, and CMS-3 — were en route to Abu Dhabi as part of a commercial operation, with the planned route passing through the Suez Canal. Due to the vessels' passage through regions known for pirate activity, a security contract was secured with a company specialising in ship protection, and armed guards were assigned to ensure the safety of the ships.

However, on November 7, 2024, the vessels encountered adverse weather conditions while navigating along the Eritrean coastline. Given the circumstances, the captains decided to enter Eritrean territorial waters. Despite attempts to reach Eritrean security and coastguard authorities via the international VHF-16 channel, no response was received.

At 10:06 local time on November 7, the Eritrean Naval Service stopped all three vessels at coordinates 13°23‘N, 042°39’E. As per the naval service’s instructions, the vessels changed course and proceeded to the designated point for inspection. After anchoring, the ships were inspected by the Eritrean Navy.

The crew on board consists of 24 people, 18 of whom are Azerbaijani citizens, while the remaining six are from other countries.

The development follows Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada's address to the situation, who stated that efforts to resolve the matter are ongoing. "The vessels were detained by Eritrean authorities due to an unauthorized entry into their territorial waters," Hajizada explained. He emphasised that as soon as the ministry became aware of the incident, it took immediate action to manage the situation.

Hajizada further clarified that the legal grounds for the vessels' entry into Eritrean waters, which does not breach international law, were communicated to the Eritrean authorities. "We conveyed this information through our embassies in Ethiopia and Russia," he said. "Additionally, meetings have been held at the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the Eritrean embassies in Türkiye and Moscow. We continue to work diligently towards resolving the issue and securing the release of the vessels and their crew."

By Tamilla Hasanova