- Iranian armed boats attacked two oil tankers in Iraqi waters.
- A Thai-flagged bulk carrier was damaged off the coast of Oman.
- Most of the crew members were evacuated, three of them are believed to be missing.
Iranian boats laden with explosives appear to have attacked two oil tankers in Iraqi waters, setting them on fire and killing a crew member on Wednesday, after projectiles hit three ships in Gulf waters, port, maritime security and risk companies said.
The latest attacks mark an escalation in the conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces, bringing to at least 16 the number of ships hit in the region since fighting began.
Shipping in the Gulf and along the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil, has come to a virtual standstill since the United States and Israel began strikes against Iran on February 28, sending global oil prices to levels not seen since 2022.
The ships targeted in late-night armed boat attacks in the Gulf near Iraq were the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Zefyros, which had loaded fuel cargoes in Iraq, two Iraqi port officials said.
“We recovered the body of a foreign crew member from the water,” a port security official said, as Iraqi rescue teams continued their search for other missing sailors. It was not immediately clear which ship the person was linked to.
The US-based commercial operator and beneficiary operator of the Safesea Vishnu are Safesea Transport Group and Safesea Group, respectively, according to data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence. They did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
An Iraqi port security source said Zefyros was flagged in Malta and provided Reuters with a list of crew names.
Zefyros Trading SA is the registered owner of the tanker matching this name and description, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data. Lloyd’s data shows the British company Cygnus Tankers Limited as the commercial operator and the family group of companies George & Vassilis Michael, a key player in Greek shipping, as the beneficial owner.
Cygnus Tankers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not immediately reach the other two entities.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted. US President Donald Trump has threatened to intensify US attacks against Iran if the latter continues to obstruct the strait.
The Thai-flagged dry bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was hit by “two projectiles of unknown origin” while passing through the strait earlier on Wednesday, causing a fire and damaging the engine room, the ship’s Thai operator, Precious Shipping, said in a statement.
“Three crew members are missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room,” Precious Shipping said.
“The company is working with the relevant authorities to rescue these three missing crew members,” it said, adding that the remaining 20 crew members had been safely evacuated and were on land in Oman.
Images provided by the Thai navy showed smoke billowing from the rear of the ship.
The Iranian guards said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency that the ship had been “targeted by fire from Iranian fighters”, suggesting the first direct engagement by the guards, who had already fired missiles or drones.
The U.S. Navy has refused near-daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war with Iran, saying the risk of attacks was too high at the moment, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Trump said the United States was prepared to provide naval escorts whenever necessary.
Two other ships suffer minor damage
The Japanese-flagged container ship ONE Majesty also suffered minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles (46 km) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, two maritime security companies said.
Its Japanese owner, Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, and a spokesman for Ocean Network Express, its charterer, said the ship was struck while at anchor in the Gulf and an inspection of the hull revealed minor damage above the waterline.
The entire crew is safe, they said, adding that the ship remains fully operational and seaworthy. The owner said the cause of the incident remains unclear and is under investigation.
A third ship, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile about 50 miles (30 miles) northwest of Dubai, maritime security companies said.
The projectile damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company Vanguard said, adding that the ship’s crew was safe. Owner Star Bulk Carriers said the ship was hit in the hold area while anchored. There were no injuries to the crew and no listing.
The Guards’ statement included a reference to another vessel, which they said was hit by projectiles – usually a reference to drones – on Wednesday morning. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm this information.
