Maritime Affairs Ministry denies seizure of Greek-interest ship «Epaminondas»

Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to operate under a state of heightened uncertainty, amid conflicting reports regarding incidents involving two container ships, one of which is of Greek interests.

The Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy has clarified that, contrary to Iranian statements, the containership ‘Epaminondas’ has not been seized. According to official sources, “the vessel has not been seized,” with Athens attributing Tehran’s claims to inaccurate information.

Iran’s statement

An announcement reportedly by Iran’s “War Messaging Center” stated that the vessels ‘MSC Francesca’ and ‘Epaminondas’ had been seized by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on allegations of violating navigation rules and operating without the required permits, thereby endangering regional security.

Despite the denial regarding the Greek-owned ‘Epaminondas’ containership, reports of a tense incident persist. The vessel, with a capacity of 6,673 TEU and of Greek interest, is said to have been approached or possibly attacked, suffering damage to the bridge, though no injuries were reported among the crew.

At the same time, the ‘MSC Francesca’ (11,660 TEU) remains stranded in the wider area following an attempted transit through the Strait, reinforcing the perception of a tightly controlled maritime passage where freedom of navigation is subject to conditions.

The two vessels are part of a broader list of MSC containerships that have remained effectively stranded in the Persian Gulf since the onset of the conflict, underscoring the ongoing disruption to maritime flows.

This development highlights the fragile security environment in the region, with shipping companies’ operational decisions being directly influenced by geopolitical factors, while conditions on the ground remain fluid.