A New Jersey-based global shipping company owns a cargo ship that was attacked in the Persian Gulf this week, leading to one crew member’s death, company officials said.
Safesea Group, which is headquartered in Piscataway, confirmed it owns the MT Safesea Vishnu, a cargo ship that was carrying petroleum products when it was attacked just before midnight Wednesday near Khor Al Zubair, Iraq.
The vessel was struck by an “unmanned craft” on its port side, creating a fire that quickly spread across the ship, the company said.
A crew member, whose name was not released, died after jumping from the ship to flee the raging fire, the company said in a statement. The sailor was one of 28 crew members aboard at the time. The remaining crew members were rescued by boat.
No other injuries were reported.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our deceased colleague, and we stand firmly behind them at this hour of grief,” Safesea Group said in a statement. “We commend our crew, who showed courage, professionalism and seamanship in the face of extreme adversity.”
The strike comes as Iran continues to retaliate after the U.S. attacked the country in a war that has caused oil prices to rise as the conflict disrupts tanker shipping.
The ship’s port of registry was not immediately known.
The company owns a fleet of tankers and container ships that sail in regions across the world, according to its website.
Safesea Group did not immediately respond to a request from NJ.com for comment.
In an interview with the New York Post, S.V. Anchan, the company’s chairman, condemned the attack.
“These men and women are not soldiers,” Anchan told the outlet. “They are not part of any military campaign. They are professionals who keep global trade moving — transporting the energy, food, and goods that sustain economies and societies around the world.”
