Panama-flagged tanker hit by explosion in Iraqi waters in Persian Gulf

Panama-flagged tanker hit by explosion in Iraqi waters in Persian Gulf / bne IntelliNewsFacebook

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By bnm Gulf bureau June 1, 2026

A container ship operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was struck by a large explosion on its starboard side in the Khor Abdullah waterway south of Umm Qasr port, UKMTO confirmed on June 1, as conflicting accounts emerged over the cause of the incident.

The vessel, identified as the MSC Sariska V, is Panama-flagged and Swiss-owned, and had arrived at Umm Qasr from Qatar, loading 96 containers at the port before departing.

UKMTO said an unknown projectile had struck the starboard side of the vessel approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr and advised all shipping to transit the area with caution.

A security source cited by Iraqi said the vessel had been targeted by a suicide boat, with footage circulating among Basra mariners appearing to show a large hole in the hull and water ingress. Iraqi authorities have not confirmed this account.

An official Iraqi source gave a different account, telling that the vessel had suffered a mechanical imbalance and lost stability due to high winds after leaving port, and that no attack had taken place.

Iraqi authorities are investigating. No group has claimed responsibility but comes hours after Iranian missiles struck a US base in neighbouring Kuwait.

The incident is the second such attack in Iraqi territorial waters this year. A foreign vessel was struck in Basra's waters on March 12 in an incident whose origin also remained unidentified, with the Iraqi navy evacuating the foreign crew.

A separate vessel, MV KSL Xinyang, arrived at Umm Qasr from China via the Strait of Hormuz on the same day, the Iraqi Ports Authority announced.

UKMTO said the vessel was transiting the Persian Gulf when it was hit and that authorities were investigating the incident.

Vessels in the area were advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO. According to images seen by Newsbase, the container ship was headed from from Kuwaiti waters and had entered Iraqi waters when struck.