All 22 crew members of a Greek-owned tanker are reported safe after the ship was hit, resulting in a fire, during a cargo transfer operation in Iraq's territorial waters.
A Greek-owned tanker flagged under Malta was involved in an incident in the Persian Gulf where it was attacked by what is believed to be an Iranian unmanned surface vessel while conducting a ship-to-ship cargo transfer operation. All 22 Georgian crew members aboard reported they are safe and in good health, with no injuries recorded following the incident. A fire broke out on the tanker as a result of the attack, prompting immediate emergency response.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece has confirmed that the fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished with the help of Iraqi firefighting units and local port authorities. This efficient response helped mitigate the situation, showcasing the promptness of the local authorities in managing such emergencies. The vessel was carrying hydrocarbons belonging to the Basra Gas Company at the time of the incident, making the situation especially concerning given the nature of the cargo involved.
This attack contributes to a concerning trend of increasing maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf region, where tensions have been rising recently, particularly involving Iranian forces and commercial shipping activities. The ongoing volatility in the Persian Gulf poses risks to international shipping routes, and the incident could further escalate tensions in a region already fraught with geopolitical conflicts.
