LONDON (Reuters) - Stena Bulk, the Swedish-based owners of the UK-flagged tanker detained by Iran, said on Saturday they were preparing a formal request to visit its 23 crew members.

“Our insurers in the region have been in contact with the Head of Marine Affairs at the Port of Bandar Abbas, who has reported that the crew members of our vessel Stena Impero are in ‘good health’...,” Stena said in a statement.

The Iranians had asked that a formal request be made for a visit to be arranged to the crew members and vessel and that one was duly being prepared, it said.

The crew of the seized Stena Impero are of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality, Stena said.