The Front Altair appears to be a tanker out of the Marshall Islands. But who mans her?
Surely not USA Merchant Seamen? Yes? No? I have known a few US Merchant Marines and I can’t imagine for a minute they would be taken prisoner.
Norwegian Tanker sailing under Marshall Islands flag.
From the article:
11 of the crew were Russian, 11 Filipino and one Georgian.
The ship that first rescued them is required to render aid by international law. Pulling them off that ship at gunpoint is very curious behavior. I have a hunch that Putin's message may have been a little more than, "Thanks."