Iranian container ship previously detained by Danish authorities leaves Aarhus Bay

The Iranian container ship Nora, held by Danish authorities since February, has departed Aarhus Bay and is now sailing toward Kalundborg, according to vessel tracking data.

Tracking service VesselFinder shows the ship passing east of Samsø at approximately 10:50 AM, heading for northwestern Zealand with Kalundborg as its stated destination, Danish news agency Ritzau reports.

Denmark’s National Unit for Special Crime (NSK) declined to comment on the case, stating only that “a police investigation remains ongoing,” according to TV 2 Østjylland.

Kalundborg Port Authority also refused to provide details, referring inquiries to the NSK.

Forced into Aarhus Port in March

The case began on February 19, when the Danish Maritime Authority confirmed it had detained an Iranian-flagged container ship anchored off Ålbæk in northern Jylland. Authorities cited improper registration as the reason for the detention.

Before its detention, the vessel had changed its name from Cerus to Nora and switched its flag from Comoros to Iran, according to TV 2.

On March 5, the NSK forced the ship into Aarhus Port for inspection. Tracking data showed its last port call before arriving in Denmark was Saint Petersburg, Russia, 48 days prior.

Linked to international sanctions

U.S. Treasury Department documents indicate the ship is subject to international sanctions and has ties to Dubai-based Reel Shipping LLC. The company is controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of the late Ali Shamkhani—a former senior Iranian official and adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Ali Shamkhani was killed in a U.S.-Israel strike on Iran on February 28, according to the report.