Ministry of Transport Confirms Continued Iraqi Port Operations Despite Ship Incident in Territorial Waters

The Ministry of Transport has affirmed that Iraq's port operations were not significantly affected following an incident where a transport vessel sustained damage in the country's territorial waters. Hussein Ahmed, the Director of Media and Government Communication at the Ministry, told the official newspaper that port operations experienced a brief and limited halt at the moment the incident occurred. He added that activities promptly resumed their normal course and accustomed flow completely thereafter, with no notable disruptions. Ahmed clarified that the personnel of the Ministry's Higher Marine Authority were among the first responders to the ship's location. Their objective was to ensure the safety of the crew members and confirm the absence of human injuries, in addition to verifying on-site that no oil spill had occurred which could pose a threat to the marine environment. He further indicated that specialized teams immediately coordinated with security agencies and official marine entities to implement a series of precautionary measures. These actions included isolating the vessel and placing it under intensive monitoring to guarantee navigation safety in the area. The spokesperson stated that reports issued by the Ministry of Oil indicate that the material damage to the ship's hull is considered very slight. Concerned authorities are currently awaiting the final official investigation results to determine the precise causes and source of the damage. This affirmation comes after a fuel oil tanker, flying the flag of the Republic of Panama, was hit in Iraqi territorial waters. The Ministry described this incident as the first of its kind, suggesting, based on initial indications, that it was accidental and unintentional, particularly in the absence of any official claim of responsibility from any party.