Columbia Shipmanagement has confirmed that the Cyprus-managed product tanker Talara and its 21 seafarers were released early today, 19 November 2025, five days after the vessel was reportedly seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Gulf of Oman.

According to the company's statement, the Talara was released at 04:42 local time (UTC +03:30), with all crew members described as “safe and in good spirits.” Columbia said it had informed the families of the seafarers and that the vessel is now free to return to normal operations.

“Columbia Shipmanagement is grateful to the Owners and all parties who assisted in securing the release of our crew and the vessel,” the company said, adding that “no allegations were made against the vessel, her crew and the vessel’s Managers and Owners.”

The release follows a tense period that began on 14 November, when Columbia Shipmanagement announced it had lost contact with the Talara while it was transiting the Indian Ocean from Sharjah, UAE, to Singapore. The vessel dropped off communications at 08:22 local time (04:22 UTC) approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Khor Fakkan, UAE.

Shortly afterward, Reuters, citing two sources, and British maritime security services reported that armed units of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps had boarded and taken control of the tanker using three small vessels. The ship was reportedly redirected toward Iranian territorial waters.

The Talara is managed by Columbia Shipmanagement and owned by Pasha Finance, a Limassol-based company.