A Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) container vessel has been struck by projectiles near Iraq’s port of Umm Qasr, with the shipping giant confirming the attack and identifying the ship as the MSC Sariska V.
According to Ship & Bunker, MSC issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that its vessel was hit by two projectiles shortly after departing the port. The first struck while a pilot was still onboard, and the second impacted the crew accommodation area.
Crew Safe, Ship Secured
Despite the severity of the strike, MSC confirmed that all crew members escaped injury. “All crew members are safe, unharmed and acted with exceptional professionalism throughout the incident to secure the vessel, and its cargo,” the company stated, as reported by Ship & Bunker.
IRGC Claims Responsibility
MSC noted that local media reports attributed the attack to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which allegedly claimed it as a retaliatory action linked to US involvement with a vessel called the Lion Star.
The shipping company firmly rejected any suggestion that the strike was justified. As Ship & Bunker reports, MSC stated: “This retaliatory action is completely unjustified based on the allegations made by the IRGC since MSC is a neutral commercial carrier with no affiliation to the United States or Israel.”
MSC further expressed serious concern over the broader implications of the incident, describing the attacks as “unprovoked” and warning of the risks they pose to seafarers and commercial maritime trade in the region.
Does This Matter to You?
The attack on MSC Sariska V adds to a pattern of maritime security incidents in the Gulf region that has already seen significant disruption to vessel traffic. Ship & Bunker has previously reported that Hormuz maritime traffic has remained disrupted since February, and that at least 57 container ships have been diverted or sheltered due to Middle East conflict as of mid-May.
An attack directly targeting a vessel in Iraqi territorial waters — hitting crew accommodation specifically — raises urgent questions around route risk, insurance exposure, crew welfare obligations, and port call decisions for anyone with vessels operating in or transiting through the northern Arabian Gulf. The IRGC’s stated rationale, targeting a vessel with no claimed US or Israeli affiliation, also raises the stakes for commercial operators who may have assumed neutrality offered protection.
The direct operational and financial implications will depend on developments in the coming days, including any formal advisories from flag state authorities or underwriters.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
