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U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the containership Blue Star III in the Arabian Sea on April 28 after the vessel was suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. naval blockade. Following a search, forces determined the voyage did not include a port call in Iran and released the ship.
CENTCOM confirmed that 39 vessels have now been redirected since the blockade began on April 13.
The boarding marks the first confirmed case of a non-Iranian-linked commercial vessel being boarded and subsequently cleared under the blockade regime. The incident is significant for the broader shipping industry, as it establishes a precedent for how vessels with legitimate cargoes and no Iranian port calls will be treated under the enforcement framework — boarded, assessed, and released without diversion.
No injuries or damage were reported during the boarding operation. Flag state and operator of Blue Star III have not been publicly disclosed.
CENTCOM is continuing blockade enforcement operations in the Arabian Sea and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.
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