But in some rare cases those ships have American crews.
At least five Iranian ships are reported to have intercepted the vessel, which has no US citizens on board. It is thought to be heading towards Larak Island.
US Army Colonel Steve Warren said the cargo ship initially ignored the patrol boats, but complied after the vessels fired several warning shots.
Iranian forces are also thought to have boarded the Maersk Tigris, which is flagged to the Marshall Islands.
http://news.sky.com/story/1473854/iranian-patrol-boat-fires-on-us-cargo-ship
It’s a little more than rare. Don’t hear much about it but we still have the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. Those grads gotta go someplace.