In a plot twist that even the most imaginative of novelists would struggle to concoct, India’s esteemed shipping ministry has flatly rejected claims that the captain of the illustrious tanker Sanmar Herald resorted to paying cash or cryptocurrency to the fine folks of Iran for the dubious privilege of safe passage through the notoriously treacherous Strait of Hormuz. The ministry, displaying a flair for the dramatic, has branded these allegations as nothing more than “fake news.”
Not to be outdone in the realm of clarifications, Sanmar Shipping Ltd promptly issued an official statement declaring the reports “completely false.” It appears that the operations of this vessel are as transparent as a freshly cleaned window, or at least they would like us to believe that. Mukesh Manga, the additional secretary of the shipping ministry, confirmed with all the gravitas of a Shakespearean actor that no payments had transpired.
“Alas! News has been circulating about a purported payment by the captain of the noble vessel Sanmar Herald in US dollars to individuals claiming to represent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, all to secure passage and subsequently falling victim to cyber ne’er-do-wells. We have conferred with the vessel’s owner, and he assured us that it is all a figment of someone’s overactive imagination-no such incident ever took place,” he intoned.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), meanwhile, has thrown its hat into the ring, rejecting any notion that our dear tanker had been hoodwinked by dastardly scammers. One can almost picture them shaking their heads in disbelief.
Be sure to follow us on X for the latest updates as they unfold, if you can stomach the absurdity!
Fake News Alert!
Please remain vigilant against such unfounded and baseless claims and posts on social media!
– MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) April 22, 2026
The clarifications arrive in the wake of allegations suggesting that Sanmar Herald had unwittingly become the hapless victim of a crypto scam. BeInCrypto reported that the Greek maritime risk firm MARISKS had raised the alarm bells for the shipping industry on Monday, warning of fraudsters demanding digital asset payments with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop.
These audacious messages, masquerading as Iranian authorities, demand transit fees in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT) for what can only be described as fake clearances. Meanwhile, MARISKS has noted that these nefarious scammers instruct shipowners to submit their vessel documentation to supposed Iranian security services before quoting a fee that would make even seasoned sailors clutch their pearls.
Furthermore, the firm suggested that at least one vessel, which was fired upon on the 18th of April-a detail that adds a hint of danger to our tale-may have fallen prey to this insidious scheme. However, in a twist worthy of a cliffhanger, they have chosen not to disclose the name of the vessel involved. India’s statement now dutifully separates the firing incident from any payment shenanigans, lest we confuse the two.
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2026-04-23 10:12