All 22 crew members — Georgian nationals serving aboard the Greek-owned, Malta-flagged tanker Zefyros — are safe following an attack in the Persian Gulf, according to Greek and Iraqi authorities. The incident occurred during a ship-to-ship cargo transfer operation within Iraq’s territorial waters.
Fire Contained, No Injuries Reported
While no injuries were reported among the crew, a fire broke out on board the Zefyros after the impact. Iraqi firefighting units and local port authorities responded immediately and successfully brought the blaze under control and extinguished it.
Two Tankers Targeted
The Zefyros was not the only vessel struck. The Safesea Vishnu, flagged in the Marshall Islands, was also attacked in the same area. That vessel is owned by U.S.-based Safesea Transport Inc., while the Zefyros is operated by Benetech Shipping, a Greece-based company linked to the Michael family — Cypriot nationals with headquarters in Athens.
Cargo and Context
The Zefyros had been preparing to dock at Khawr al-Zubair in southern Iraq to load 30,000 tonnes of naphtha — a petrochemical feedstock — after offloading its previous cargo. Iraq’s state oil marketing organization (SOMO) confirmed the tanker was carrying condensed energy products from Basra Gas Company as part of the country’s hydrocarbon export operations.
Broadening Security Concerns
An Iraqi port official told CNN that 38 crew members were rescued from two foreign tankers engulfed in flames following the attack — though at least one fatality has been confirmed. Social media posts from open-source intelligence accounts referenced the incident, citing reports of an Iranian attack and sharing footage of burning vessels in the northern Persian Gulf.
This latest incident adds to a recent surge in maritime attacks across the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz — raising serious concerns about shipping safety in one of the world’s most critical energy transit corridors.