MSC confirms ship struck by two projectiles in Iraqi port

The MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed that its container ship MSC Sariska Vwas struck by two projectiles in the port of Um-Qasr, Iraq on Monday, June 1.

The giant Geneva-based shipowner said the container ship was first hit while the pilot was onboard, as the vessel departed from the port, while the second struck impacted the crew area soon afterwards.

A statement from the company confirmed that all crew members were safe and unharmed and that they acted “with exceptional professionalism” throughout the incident to secure the vessel and its cargo.

The Gianluigi Aponte-company led by his son and daughter, Diego and Alexa Aponte, added that local media reports indicated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had claimed responsibility for the attack in response to US actions involving the vessel Lion Star.

MSC stated that it is a neutral commercial carrier and has no affiliation with either the United States or Israel. “This retaliatory action is completely unjustified based on the allegations made by the IRGC,” it said.

The company added that it is headquartered and domiciled in Switzerland and is wholly owned by the children of the founder – the Italian national captain Gianluigi Aponte – Diego and