Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed a drone strike on the container feeder MV MSC Ishyka in the Strait of Hormuz region, though the incident remains unverified by independent sources.
According to the IRGC statement, the vessel was allegedly targeted due to claimed links to Israel and caught fire following the strike. However, no maritime authorities, including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), have confirmed the incident, and it has not been included in official incident reports.
AIS data adds further uncertainty. A vessel broadcasting as MV MSC Ishyka III, identified in Equasis as MV MSC Ishyka (IMO 9154206), was last reported berthed in Manama, Bahrain. The vessel’s AIS signal has shown irregular gaps since late February, complicating efforts to verify its movements and current position.
The 34,000 DWT feeder containership, built in 1997, operates on regional routes linking India, the Arabian Gulf, and East Africa. It has been managed by MSC since 2014 and is owned by Pasithea Oceanway Ltd.
Despite the IRGC’s claims, there is no evidence linking the vessel directly to Israeli ownership or operations beyond standard liner services to regional ports. Previous incidents in the region have included attacks or attempted strikes on merchant vessels based on alleged affiliations that were not independently confirmed.
In a separate development, a container vessel operating at Khor Fakkan, UAE, reported projectile splashes nearby while alongside, though no damage or injuries were recorded.
The reported incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where multiple verified attacks on commercial shipping have been recorded in recent weeks, increasing risks for vessels operating both within and beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
