Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed that its containership, MSC Sariska V, was struck by two projectiles shortly after departing Iraq’s Port of Umm Qasr, in one of the most significant attacks on commercial shipping in the northern Persian Gulf since tensions escalated between the United States and Iran.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Swiss-based carrier said the Panama-flagged vessel was attacked as it left port on Sunday. According to MSC, the first projectile struck the ship while the pilot was still on board during departure, while a second hit the crew accommodation area shortly afterwards.
Despite the attack, no crew members were injured. The company praised the professionalism of the seafarers, who swiftly secured the vessel and its cargo following the incident. MSC also responded to reports that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had claimed responsibility for the strike, allegedly linking it to recent U.S.
actions involving the Iranian vessel Lion Star. “This retaliatory action is completely unjustified,” the company said, stressing that MSC is a neutral commercial shipping line with no affiliation to either the United States or Israel. It noted that the company is headquartered in Switzerland and remains family-owned by the founder, Gianluigi Aponte.
The incident corroborates alerts issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which reported that a cargo vessel about 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr had been hit by an unidentified projectile, triggering a large explosion. A subsequent impact caused a fire that was later brought under control.
Images circulating online showed significant damage to the vessel’s starboard side above the waterline, prompting speculation among maritime security analysts over the type of weapon used. Some experts have suggested the damage pattern appears inconsistent with a mine strike and may indicate an attack by an uncrewed surface vessel.
The latest incident is at least the third reported attack involving commercial shipping in Iraqi and northern Gulf waters since March. Earlier incidents included an explosion near a tanker anchored off Kuwait and projectile strikes on two tankers south of Al Basrah that caused fires and forced crew evacuations.
MSC said it remains deeply concerned about the growing threat to merchant shipping in the region. “The risk these unprovoked attacks create for innocent seafarers and essential maritime trade is significant,” the company said.