One seafarer killed as tankers attacked during STS operation near Iraq

A renewed wave of suspected Iranian attacks on commercial vessels has targeted two tankers near Iraq and a container vessel off Jebel Ali.

The Indian government, through the Directorate General of Shipping, reported that 2007-built tanker Safesea Vishnu was targeted near Basra, Iraq, on 11 March while conducting ship-to-ship (STS) cargo loading operations off Khor Al Zubair Port.

MarineTraffic footage shows that Safesea Vishnu was engaged in the STS operation with 2013-built tanker Zefyros.

Benetech Shipping, which manages Zefyros, confirmed to Riviera that the incident occurred during the STS operation with Safesea Vishnu. The Greek owner said Zefyros was involved in a security incident when an unknown projectile struck in its vicinity on 11 March 2026 at 23:41 local time at Umm Qasar Anchorage, Iraq.

According to the Indian Directorate, Safesea Vishnu, which was carrying approximately 48,000 metric tonnes of naphtha, was struck by an unidentified object. Preliminary reports cited by the agency suggest that a “white-coloured unmanned speedboat carrying explosives” approached the vessel from the starboard side and rammed into it, resulting in a major fire on board.

The Iraqi Coast Guard evacuated all 28 crew members of Safesea Vishnu – including 16 Indian nationals and 12 Filipino nationals – and transported them safely to the Port of Basra.

However, the Directorate confirmed the death of one Indian seafarer. US-based Safesea Group, which owns Safesea Vishnu, said in a statement that the deceased crew member died after ingesting seawater.

“The crew member, despite receiving treatment from paramedics, could not be revived and was declared dead by hospital authorities on Al-Fao Island,” the company added.

Firefighting tugs remain deployed at the site and are working to contain the blaze. 

Regarding Zefyros, Benetech Shipping confirmed that all 23 crew members are safe and accounted for. They have been evacuated and brought to shore.

The condition of the vessel is currently being assessed.

“We would like to thank local officials and port authorities for their assistance during the incident,” Benetech Shipping added.

Container vessel hit by shrapnel

In a separate incident, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on 12 March that the master of a container vessel reported being struck by an unknown projectile 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, causing a small fire on board.

The vessel has been identified as 2003-built Source Blessing, owned by China-based Mascot Ocean, according to Equasis data.

A Hapag-Lloyd spokesperson confirmed to Riviera that Source Blessing is one of the liner’s sublet charter vessels, adding that it was hit by shrapnel.

“The crew on board is safe and sound and was able to extinguish the fire and quickly contain the situation,” the spokesperson said.

These incidents follow attacks on two bulk carriers and one container vessel on 11 March, which left three seafarers missing from the Precious Shipping-owned Mayuree Naree.