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18 January, 2024 Empire Navigation Inc., managers of M/T St. Nikolas, reports with great pleasure the safe release of the youngest crew member onboard its seized vessel. The Greek cadet, escorted by the Greek Ambassador to Iran, is board a flight to return home. Regardless of this positive news, our Company remains committed to the safe release of all crew members. The remaining 18 seafarers, still onboard the vessel anchored at Bandar Abbas in Iran, are in good health and in contact with their families. The Company has also established contact with the Filipino Ambassador to Iran who will be visiting the vessel upon required formalities are completed by the Local Authorities. Filipino Government officials continue their ongoing efforts as of first day to negotiate the safe return of the remaining crew members. The safety and wellbeing of our crew and their families will always be top priorities for our Company. We remain in constant cooperation with the seafarers' families, working with specialized professionals to provide mental health and psychological support during this emotional and difficult time. Family members will have access to these resources until all seafarers are safely released, at which time the seafarers themselves will have support as long as advised by medical professionals. The St. Nikoloas was sailing laden, with a cargo of about 145,000 mts of crude oil loaded in Basrah, Iraq and destined to Aliaga (Turkey), via the Suez Canal, when she was seized by Iran on 11 January. The charterer of the vessel is Tupras. Empire Navigation maintains in close contact with all appropriate authorities as we work to secure the safe release of the remaining crew members onboard the St. Nikolas. Empire Navigation Inc. press statement 16 January, 2024 Empire Navigation Inc., managers of M/T St. Nikolas, are happy to report the company has reestablished direct contact with the vessel and its Master for the first time since the St. Nikolas was seized on Thursday, 11 January. The company also confirms that the vessel still remains at the Bandar Abbas anchorage in Iran and that all crew members are in good health and have been able to contact their families. In an effort to best protect our crew members and their families, we ask that you respect their privacy during this emotional and difficult time. We remain in constant cooperation with the families of our seafarers, making mental health and psychological support services available through specialized professionals. Family members will have access to these resources until the seafarers are safely released, at which time the seafarers themselves will have support as long as advised by medical professionals. Despite a renewed line of communication between Company and vessel, our top priority remains the safe return of our 19 crew members onboard the St. Nikolas. The vessel was sailing laden, with a cargo of about 145,000 mts of crude oil loaded in Basrah, Iraq and destined to Aliaga (Turkey), via the Suez Canal, when she was seized. The charterer of the vessel is Tupras. Empire Navigation maintains close contact with pertinent Greek and International authorities as we work to secure the safe return of the 19 crew members onboard the St. Nikolas. Empire Navigation Inc. press statement 15 January, 2024 Empire Navigation Inc. are happy to report that today, our local correspondent, who has been in touch with the Iranian authorities since Sunday, secured permission and visited the vessel. He met with our crew members in order to provide any necessary assistance required and reconfirmed that they are all healthy and in good spirit. Satellite communications with the vessel still remain disabled. The St. Nikolas remains at the Bandar Abbas anchorage in Iran. Standing by the families of the captured seafarers, Empire Navigation has established since the early hours of the incident, a mental health and psychological support service, provided by specialized professionals. This will continue to be offered to the families until the seafarers are safely released and will, of course, be provided to the seafarers themselves upon their return and for as long as advised by medical professionals. The vessel was sailing laden, with a cargo of about 145,000 mts of crude oil loaded in Basrah, Iraq and destined to Aliaga (Turkey), via the Suez Canal, when she was seized. The charterer of the vessel is Tupras. Empire Navigation, as the manager of the vessel, has notified the pertinent Greek and international authorities from the first moment and is in close and constant cooperation with them as well as with the crew members' next of kin. Empire Navigation Inc. press statement 14 January, 2024 Empire Navigation Inc. are now in a position to report that, according to their local P&I Club Correspondent whose efforts to contact the Iranian authorities earlier today were successful, all the crew members on board the St. Nikolas (IMO No. 9524475, Flag: Marshall Islands) are safe and in good health. The Company have not been in direct touch with their crew since the vessel's seizure on January 11th and the satellite communications system remains disabled. The St. Nikolas remains at the Bandar Abbas anchorage in Iran. The Company's main concern and upmost priority has been and will be first and foremost the safety of the crew on board the St. Nikolas, 19 seafarers in total (18 Filipinos and one Greek). Standing by the families of the captured seafarers, Empire Navigation established yesterday, January 13, a mental health and psychological support service, provided by specialized professionals. This will continue to be offered to the families until the seafarers are safely released and will, of course, be provided to the seafarers themselves upon their return and for as long as advised by medical professionals. The vessel had loaded the previous days in Basrah (Iraq) a cargo of about 145,000 mts of crude oil destined to Aliaga (Turkey), via the Suez Canal. The charterer of the vessel is Tupras. Empire Navigation, as the manager of the vessel, has notified the pertinent Greek and international authorities from the first moment and is in close and constant cooperation with them as well as with the crew members' next of kin. Empire Navigation Inc. press statement Athens - 11 January, 2024 - 20:10 LT Following to the earlier statement regarding M/T St. Nikolas (IMO No 9524475, Flag: Marshall Islands), the Company still has not had any contact with the vessel or any other party since approx. 06:30 Athens time today. Company's main concern and upmost priority is the safety of the crew on board the St. Nikolas, 19 seafarers in total (18 Filipinos and 1 Greek). The vessel had loaded the previous days in Basrah (Iraq) a cargo of about 145,000 mts of crude oil destined to Aliaga (Turkey), via the Suez Canal. The charterer of the vessel is Tupras. Empire Navigation as the manager of the vessel has notified the pertinent authorities from the first moment and is in close and constant cooperation with them as well as with the crew members' next of kin. Empire Navigation Inc. press statement Athens - 11th January 2024 Empire Navigation, managers of M/T St. Nikolas (IMO No 9524475, Flag: Marshall Islands), report that they lost contact with their vessel at approx. 06:30 Athens time as she was sailing off the coast of Oman, close to Sohar. The vessel is manned with total 19 crew members: 18 Filipino and one of Greek Nationality. The vessel had loaded the previous days in Basrah (Iraq) a cargo of about 145,000 mts of crude oil destined to Aliaga (Turkey), via the Suez Canal. The charterer of the vessel is Tupras. Empire Navigation have activated their emergency plan, notified the pertinent authorities and are making every effort to restore communication with the St.Nikolas. Empire Navigation Inc. press release 
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