Iran seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz after firing on them

Iran seized two container ships attempting to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, firing on them and another vessel, marking the first such actions since the war with the United States and Israel began in February. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned that any disturbance to order and safety in the strait would be viewed as a red line.

The capture of the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca was confirmed by Montenegro’s maritime affairs minister, who stated that four Montenegrin seafarers were among the crew and were safe. Negotiations are ongoing between the shipping company and Iran, with authorities in contact with the crew, stated Minister Filip Radulovic on X.

The IRGC accused the MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas of operating without required permits and manipulating navigation systems. The Greek-operated Epaminondas reported being fired upon roughly 20 nautical miles northwest of Oman, sustaining damage to its bridge from gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades from an IRGC gunboat, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and maritime security sources.

Technomar Shipping Inc, the Greek operator, confirmed the attack and the crew’s safety. The Epaminondas has a crew of 21, including Ukrainians and Filipinos, according to the Greek coast guard, which could not confirm the ship’s seizure. The operator stated their priority was the crew’s safety and well-being.

Maritime security sources indicated three people were on the gunboat, and that the ship’s master reported no prior radio contact before the attack, despite having previously received permission to transit the strait. The MSC Francesca was hit by gunfire about eight nautical miles west of Iran, with no damage and a safe crew, according to UKMTO and sources. MSC, the world’s largest container shipping group, did not respond to a request for comment.

The Epaminondas is also chartered to MSC, according to three sources. Another Liberia-flagged container ship, Euphoria, was fired upon in the same area but was undamaged and continued sailing to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, according to the sources. The attacks occurred as the three ships, some with navigation systems off, were trying to exit the Strait of Hormuz early in the morning. The seizures were the first since Iran captured the container ship MSC Aries in Hormuz in 2024. No information was immediately available about the cargo the ships were carrying.

Oil prices rose after the incidents. Jonathan Chappell of Evercore wrote that the Iran war and strait closure are unprecedented, creating potential for volatility.

Following U.S. and Israeli bombing attacks on Iran on February 28, Tehran restricted ships using the strait, bringing traffic to a near standstill. Iranian shipping, however, was largely unaffected, benefiting from a one-month U.S. sanctions waiver issued on March 20, which permitted the export of crude oil and oil products. Washington has since ended that trade with a U.S. blockade of Iranian ships.

The strait typically sees around 130 vessels daily, handling about 20% of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas supply. After the war began, this fell to roughly nine vessels per day, then increased to about 20 during a brief reopening last week, data from AXS Marine indicated.