US- and Greek-owned tankers ablaze after Iran claims ‘underwater drone’ strike in Iraqi waters
- Iran claims ‘underwater drone’ attack on two tankers near Basrah; one dead, 38 rescued
- Both vessels ablaze; Iraqi oil port operations suspended
- Maersk-operated containership also struck off Jebel Ali
Iran strikes tankers in Iraqi waters and Maersk-operated boxship off key UAE port, dragging more Middle East Gulf states into the conflict
IRAN has claimed responsibility for an attack on two oil tankers anchored in Iraqi territorial waters, as conflicts in the region continue to escalate and strikes on commercial shipping spread beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing of Oil identified the two vessels as the 73,976 dwt crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu (IMO: 9327009) and the 50,155 dwt combined chemical and oil tanker Zefyros (IMO: 9515917).
According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data, Safesea Vishnu is beneficially owned by US-based Safesea Group, while Zefyros is beneficially owned by Greece’s George & Vassilis Michael family group of companies.
Both were struck by what Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB described as an “underwater drone attack” on the evening of March 11, while anchored about five nautical miles south of Basrah.
At least one crew member is confirmed dead. Iraqi authorities reported that 38 crew members of foreign nationalities were rescued from the two vessels, though details on injuries and the identity of the deceased have not been released.
Verified footage shows both tankers ablaze, with flames spreading on to the surrounding water — likely the result of an oil spill, though no environmental impact had been officially confirmed at the time of writing.
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 11, 2026
Iran just struck a large oil tanker in Iraqi territorial waters.
The vessel has been engulfed in flames pic.twitter.com/Tvg3lnkmNV
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received third-party reports of the incident and advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
An Iraqi security source in Basra initially reported that an Iranian boat rigged with explosives was believed to have struck the vessels, with an investigation ongoing. Iraqi officials described the incident as a violation of national sovereignty, noting it occurred within Iraqi territorial waters.
Operations at nearby oil ports have been temporarily suspended following the attack.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence vessel-tracking data showed both vessels anchored alongside each other near the Basrah Oil Terminal at the time of the incident.
The attack follows strikes on three vessels in the Middle East Gulf on March 10, when two bulkers and a containership were hit, leaving three seafarers missing.
Shortly after the attacks off Iraq, a containership was hit by an unidentified projectile on the same day off the coast of Jebel Ali, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
Liberia-flagged, Maersk operated containership Source Blessing (IMO: 9243198) was the target of the unknown projectile while it was sailing approximately 35 nm north of Jebel Ali, UAE, at 0219 hrs.
The ship’s master reported a small fire on board in the engine room caused by the strike, but due to darkness, it was not immediately possible to assess the extent of the damage.
All crew members were reported safe, and no environmental impact has been reported, according to the UKMTO.
Source Blessing passed the Strait of Hormuz one day before the war started and loaded cargo at Hamad port in Qatar. Since then it was sailing between anchorages off Qatar and the UAE, presumably waiting for a safe passage from the chokepoint back to the Gulf of Oman.
Since the conflict began on February 28, at least 13 cargo carrying vessels have now been attacked in the region, with casualties continuing to mount and the shipping industry increasingly exposed to the widening war.
