@ Pontious Navigator,
Is there something missing here?
The ships might be of foreign ownership, the crews another nationality and the cargo due for multiple destinations, and owned by a totally different organisation.
For instance Shell might charter a greek owned tanker, registered in Monrovia that is crewed by Norwegians, Brits and Filipinos. The oil Shell wants carried might be from a Saudi oilfield and hence will be 50/50 Saudi/ Shell owned. The oil may be destined for the UK and other destinations, particularly after having been refined at a single location. Shell also have different charter contracts that share risk in differing ways and amounts.
Therefore a request for UK force protection is not as daft as it might first appear.
Hval