Greek-owned tanker hit in the Persian Gulf

The Greek-owned tanker Zephyros (flagged in Malta) was among six ships hit yesterday in the Persian Gulf, possibly by an Iranian drone.

All 22 crew members (all Georgian nationals) are safe, and the attack occurred during a ship-to-ship transfer of Iraqi hydrocarbons within Iraqi territorial waters.

The ship belongs to the company Benetech, owned by Giorgos and Vasilis Michail, which manages a fleet of six tankers. Vasilis Michail is married to Christina Vakaki, daughter of the founder of Jumbo.

Iran has stated that as long as the war continues, it will not allow the transport of oil outside the Gulf, causing global oil prices to soar.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has repeatedly stated that as long as attacks against Iran continue, it will not allow the transfer of “even a single liter of oil” from Gulf countries to the US, Israel, or their allies.

This has caused a paralysis of shipping in the Persian Gulf, as the Strait of Hormuz (through which nearly 1/5 of global oil and LNG shipments pass), controlled by Iran, has been effectively closed, driving global oil prices to levels not seen since 2022.

Sources: Reuters, Lloydslist, ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ, Πρώτο Θέμα