Romanian Oil Rig Comes Under Iranian Fire

Washington Post ^ | 8/22/06

[John999]

BUCHAREST, Romania -- A Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire Tuesday from an Iranian military warship and was later occupied by Iranian troops, a company spokesman said.

The Iranians first fired into the air and then fired at the Orizont rig, said GSP spokesman Radu Petrescu. Half an hour later, troops from the ship boarded and occupied the rig and the company lost contact with the 26 crew members shortly afterward....

[bwteim]

Some info on Kish Island

http://www.kishtpc.com/Kish%20Over%20Photos1.htm

http://www.floweroftheeast.de/main.php?bw=low

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=45076&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

"Fortuna Oilrig sneaks out of Iran waters at night

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, August 16 (IranMania) - Fortuna Oilrig was taken out of Iranian waters by illegal means.

According to MNA, the owner, Romanian GSP, has done so in collaboration with an Iranian marine company and a foreign firm in violation of international and security regulations, managing director of PetroIran Development Company Seyyed Mostafa Khoyi announced.

The vessel in charge of carting off the drilling rig to Fujaireh port at UAE, initially received the permit to leave Bandar Abbas for the port by the assistance of Boyeh Sabz of Iran, appearing as the Iranian representative, and the backing of a firm from UAE. ..."

[Pride in the USA]

Things that make you go hmmmm . . . .

[oneolcop]

"An Iranian official said Romania's Grup Servicii Petroliere, or GSP, had failed to follow contractual procedures."

This is typical of the Iranians. Find an "problem", push it to the limit, wait to see what happens, then if there is no affirmative response, push some more.

These are the people who invented backgammon. If taken in isolation and blown off as a "business dispute" you can bet there will be another and another and another...

[No Blue States]

Thanks, thats the 1st thing I wondered when I heard this story. "Is it near the Strait?"..Thanks for pinpointing the location by map.

[madison10]

Iran knows it can do whatever it wants and NO ONE will yank it's chain. How did this happen? Ask Jimmy "The Joker" Carter.

[monday]

"Exploitation of the Hangam gas field has been delayed because the necessary drilling equipment to sink appraisal wells was not procured on time.

Just four foreign-owned rigs are currently active in Iranian oil projects."

This is all you need to know about the so called "business dispute". Hardly any foreign-owned rigs are willing to risk operating in Iranian controlled oil fields for fear of exactly what is happening to the Romanian company right now. That their rigs will be stolen by Iran.

Obviously, unless you think the Iranian government would never lie, the two year contract was up and the Romanians were using the opportunity to get their oil rigs away from Iran when this occurred. The Iranians probably expected them to renew their contracts, but the Romanians declined.

Not that I feel a great deal of pity for the Romanians. They knew they were dealing with the devil whey they signed the original contracts. It is almost poetic justice that they should be burned by their business partners.

One final note. If any other oil service companies were considering doing business with Iran, Iran has just made sure that they have changed their minds. Hell will freeze over before anyone else takes a chance on operating in Iran.

[bwteim]

"Find an "problem", push it to the limit, wait to see what happens, then if there is no affirmative response, push some more."

Yes. North Korea fits the pattern as well, as you are describing behavior of bullies - whether a person or a state.

[Conan the Librarian]

I was just thinking the same thing. An attack on one NATO country is an attack on all!

[Redcloak]

It's the 22nd.

That's kinda anticlimactic. I was expecting something a little more exciting than "Start the conquest of the Romania".

[Coop]

It's early!

[monday]

"According to MNA, the owner, Romanian GSP, has done so in collaboration with an Iranian marine company and a foreign firm in violation of international and security regulations, managing director of PetroIran Development Company Seyyed Mostafa Khoyi announced. "

Which begs the question. Why would the owner of a drilling rig have to sneak their rig away from Iran? Perhaps they were afraid it would be held hostage by Iran?

Wonder what "international and security regulations" they violated by moving the oil rig? You think they are as serious as the "international and security regulations" against piracy and kidnapping that Iran committed by firing on and hijacking the rig?

If Iranian claims were true, they could easily sue the company and recover damages in a UAE court. They don't have to hijack the oil rig. This is how I know that the Iranians are lying.

If the Romanian company's claims are true however, they are out of luck as an Iranian court will never rule against the Iranian government. They could sue in UAE court but since Iran is a sovereign nation, it would be impossible to enforce collection.

[tflabo]

A Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire Tuesday from an Iranian military warship

Time to go 'ROMAN' on Iran.

[XR7]

More oil money for jihad.

[RaceBannon]

Is Ahmadinejad a Serb, too?

[VRWCmember]

Maybe this was what "Alamajeddi" (or what ever his name is)

I think the correct pronunciation is "I'm-a-damn-nut-job".

[EQAndyBuzz]

"I guess the rig was trying to escape so they fired on it. Hey, does anyone know the top speed of an oil rig?"

Is the oil rig laden with say, coconuts? And is it a European or an African oil rig?

[OldFriend]

And the Romanians have a long history of doing the right thing.

[bwteim]

"And the Romanians have a long history of doing the right thing."

I'm thinking you're thinking Vlad... as in putting Ahm-a-damn-nutjob's head on a stake
;)

[RustMartialis]

When has the world ever needed France?

Skipped US History in school, did you? --R.

[sasha123]

It doesn't sound good, but maybe the Iranians want to be sure there are no spies on board and are interrogating everyone before they let them go. The problem is that Iranian government is so paranoid they would think girl scouts were trained as spies.