Shafaq News- Basra
A large Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) containervessel suffered a mechanical failure in the Khor Abdullah waterway on Mondayshortly after departing Umm Qasr North Port in Basra, southern Iraq, with 96export containers onboard, a security source told Shafaq News.
Pressure buildup inside balance tank compartments 9and 10 caused a technical explosion aboard the vessel after it left the port,with no indications of sabotage or any other external factor.
Authorities have opened an investigation to determinethe circumstances of the incident and evaluate any resulting damage.
The vessel had arrived earlier today from Dubai andwas due to transport Iraqi products, including dates, soft drinks, and spareparts, to international markets. The General Company for Iraqi Ports noted thatit was the second major cargo ship to reach Umm Qasr within hours.
