US-Owned Tanker Erupts in Flames After Explosion in Northern Persian Gulf　米国所有タンカーが炎上、ペルシャ湾奥部で爆発

Japan-Linked Vessels Face Dilemma as “Escape from the Gulf Remains Impossible”

日本関係船、「湾外に脱出したくてもできない現状」にジレンマ

On March 11, 2026, two oil tankers erupted in explosions and caught fire off Basra in Iraq, at the northernmost end of the Persian Gulf.

The vessels involved were the Panamax crude oil tanker “SAFESEA VISHNU,” owned by a US-based shipowner, and the MR-class tanker “ZEFYROS,” owned by a Greek shipowner.

The full article includes the following content (approximately 3,000 words):

→ A US-owned tanker explodes and catches fire at the northernmost end of the Persian Gulf — potentially the largest attack on civilian tankers since the outbreak of the US-Iran confrontation.

→ Quantitative information on “SAFESEA VISHNU” and “ZEFYROS,” including ownership, operators, year of construction, IMO numbers and principal particulars.

→ Reporting by MBJ reveals Japan-related vessels remaining inside the Gulf — testimony from shipping sources on the ground that “even if we want to escape, we cannot.”

→ Implications for marine insurance, charter contracts and crew safety — the new risk environment facing the shipping industry, where the application of war risk insurance does not necessarily mean safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

(The continuation can be read in the full article written in both English and Japanese. The Japanese article is published following the English version.)

米国所有タンカーが炎上、ペルシャ湾最奥部で爆発

日本関係船、「湾外に脱出したくてもできない現状」にジレンマ

　ペルシャ湾最奥部のイラク・バスラ沖で2026年３月11日、米国に拠点を置く船主が所有するパナマックス型原油タンカー「SAFESEA VISHNU」と、ギリシャ船主が保有するMR型タンカー「ZEFYROS」が相次いで爆発・炎上した。

■記事本文では以下の内容を読むことができます（記事全文約3000文字）

→ペルシャ湾最奥部で米国所有タンカーが爆発・炎上―米国・イラン衝突後、民間タンカーへの攻撃として最大規模の被害の可能性。

→「SAFESEA VISHNU」「ZEFYROS」の所有者、オペレーター、建造年、IMO番号、主要目などの定量情報。

→MBJの取材により、日本関係船が湾内に滞留―「逃げたくても逃げられない」現場の海運関係者の証言。

→船舶保険・用船契約・船員安全に影響―海運業界が直面する新たなリスク環境、船舶保険の適用＝ホルムズ海峡の通航―とはならない。

（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください。日本語の記事は英文記事に続いて掲載されています）

Photo courtesy of Media Office of Iraqi Ports