A Greek-owned tanker was among two that caught fire after being attacked in Iraqi territorial waters in the Persian Gulf late on Wednesday. The incident resulted in one fatality, while 38 crew members were successfully rescued.
According to CNN, the vessels involved are the Malta-flagged Zefyros, owned by a Greece-based company, and the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu, owned by the U.S. firm Safesea Transport Inc. Verified footage shows both ships engulfed in flames, which spread to the surrounding sea, likely due to an oil leak.
Farhan al-Fartousi, Director General of the Iraqi Ports Company, stated that all rescued crew members are foreign nationals. While he declined to provide specifics on injuries or the extent of the damage, he confirmed the incident occurred approximately 30 nautical miles offshore.
According to an Iraqi port official, two foreign tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil were attacked within the territorial waters of Iraq within the last hour, causing both to catch fire in the Persian Gulf. A total of 25 crewmembers onboard the vessels have been evacuated so far by… pic.twitter.com/xBCHI09Txs
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 11, 2026
Iraq’s state oil marketer, SOMO, reported that the tankers were attacked within a loading zone. The Zefyros was reportedly preparing to dock at Khor Al Zubair to load 30,000 tons of naphtha. Following the attack, all oil transit ports in the area suspended operations.
Massive oil tanker fire reported in the northern Persian Gulf tonight after an Iranian attack. pic.twitter.com/gEmg4s1Plc
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 11, 2026
While Iranian state media claimed responsibility, asserting that a “submarine drone” was used, a Basra security source told CNN that an explosives-laden boat is suspected. Meanwhile, a port official in Basra remained uncertain whether the strike was aerial or naval. These developments come amid U.S. accusations that Iran is mining Gulf waters to disrupt global energy markets.
Risks at Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz
On Tuesday, a Greek-owned bulk carrier was among three commercial vessels that were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The Greek-owned target has been identified as the Star Gwyneth, a bulk carrier operated by the NYSE-listed Star Bulk.
US Special Envoy for Global Energy Integration Joshua Volz recently issued a sobering warning about the Persian Gulf, noting that “more than 300 Greek ships and countless Greek sailors” are at risk. Asserting that “global shipping is not safe,” he highlighted that the industry operates in an environment of multiple, daily risks.
Related: Capital Link Forum Warns of Persian Gulf Risks to Greek Shipping
