MSC containership seized near Strait of Hormuz

Iranian armed forces have seized a container ship, identified as the Portugal-flagged 15,000 TEU MSC Aries, near the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel was commandeered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on April 13, according to reports from Iranian state media. The move comes as a retaliation against an Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria which has resulted in heightened tensions in the region.

The IRGC, which lost seven members, including two generals, in the Syria strike, took control of the ship, guiding it towards Iranian territorial waters, as confirmed by state-run IRNA.

Video footage of the seizure circulating the internet shows two guards sliding down ropes from a helicopter while the vessel was sailing in the Gulf of Oman.

The container ship had just completed a call at Khalifa port in the UAE and was heading with cargo onboard for her next call at Nhava Shiva port in India.

The 2020-built MSC Aries is owned by Gortal Shipping, a finance company affiliated with Zodiac Maritime, a company run by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer and his family, had departed from a port in the United Arab Emirates en route to India. MSC, an Italian-Swiss shipping group, operates the vessel on its Himalaya Express between Europe, India and Sri Lanka.

MSC confirmed in a statement that MSC Aries was boarded by Iranian authorities via helicopter as she passed the Strait of Hormuz at approximately 0243 UTC Saturday morning.

“Her position when the event occurred was approximately 25 deg 41.5’ N : 056 deg 41.9’ E and she has since been diverted from her itinerary towards Iran. She has 25 crew onboard, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their wellbeing, and safe return of the vessel,” the statement reads.

The boarding was reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) as occurring 50 nautical miles (92km) northeast of Fujairah.

UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 063 BOARDING UPDATE
001https://t.co/6mNrG6W5iO#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/BXD73sutrP

— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) April 13, 2024

The Portuguese-flagged vessel carries a crew of 25, comprising 17 Indians, including the Master, four Filipinos, two Pakistanis, one Russian, and one Estonian.

“MSC is the manager and commercial operator of the container vessel MSC Aries. MSC is responsible for all vessel activities including cargo operations and maintenance. Title to the vessel is held by Gortal Shipping Inc as financier and she has been leased to MSC on a long term basis. Gortal Shipping Inc is affiliated with Zodiac Maritime,” Zodiac Maritime said in a statement to WorldCargo News.

“MSC is also responsible for the vessel’s itinerary, schedule and crew onboard and any queries about the vessel should be directed to MSC.”

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) condemned the seizure of the MSC Aries by Iranian forces.

“The welfare of the 25 innocent seafarers that are now being held hostage are the highest priority and ICS calls for the immediate release of the seafarers and the ship,” ICS said.

“Iran’s seizure of the MSC Aries is a flagrant breach of international law and an assault on freedom of navigation. This reprehensible attack against a merchant ship once again places innocent seafarers on the front lines of geopolitical conflict. Our thoughts are with the 25 Seafarers who are now captives of Iran, and with the families who are now in fear of their loved ones’ safety. Iran must release the ship as a matter of urgency,” Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, said.

ICS warned that ships transiting the region should conduct a thorough threat assessment and liaise closely with military forces to ensure they are fully protected against further possible aggression by Iranian forces.

International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) joined the call for the immediate release of the international crew as well as the MSC-chartered vessel MSC Aries.

“The recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden have impacted the fluidity of the global maritime transport chain, and specifically on trade and port activities in and around the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The attack today in the Gulf of Oman has the potential to further disrupt cargo transits in and out of the region, which will impact all of our member ports one way or another. This make its all the more important to share information and know how on how to respond to these constant disruptions, together,” said Patrick Verhoeven, IAPH’s Managing Director.

This is the second ship to be seized on the grounds of links to Israel in the Red Sea as threats to merchant shipping in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea continue to escalate.

Specifically, NYK-chartered car carrier Galaxy Leader was seized near Hodeida, Yemen in November 2023 by the Houthis as a retaliation against Israel in relation to its ongoing war against in Gaza. Despite calls for release from numerous international bodies, including the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO), Galaxy Leader and its crew remain seized, with no signs of of being released any time soon.

This article has been updated with the statements from MSC, IAPH and Zodiac Maritime since its initial publishing.