Iran released dramatic footage of the seizure of the Greek-operated container ship Epaminondas in the Strait of Hormuz. Technomar Shipping Inc., the vessel’s owner, confirmed that the ship is now under the control of Iranian forces, reversing earlier reports that had cast doubt on the seizure.
Following an update provided to the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the company confirmed that Iranian military personnel boarded the vessel and ordered the captain to steer toward Larak Island, located at the entrance of the Persian Gulf. This confirms the capture of the ship—an escalation in Tehran’s ongoing efforts to exert control over maritime traffic within the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) subsequently released video footage purporting to show the seizure operation. The footage depicts armed, masked soldiers scaling the side of the container ship.
WATCH: Liberia-flagged container ship MSC Epaminondas being boarded by a special forces team from the IRGC Navy as it attempted to breach the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/ZcMAilJRBw
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 22, 2026
Greek ship moved to Iranian territorial waters
International maritime tracking data confirms that the Epaminondas, along with the MSC Francesca, has been moved into Iranian territorial waters. The vessel is currently heading northwest at approximately 14.8 knots toward Qeshm Island.
Technomar Shipping, owned by George Youroukos, confirmed that there are 21 crew members on board—nationals of Ukraine and the Philippines. The company emphasized that all crew members are reported to be in good health, with no injuries or environmental incidents reported.
A timeline of contradictory reports
The incident began on the morning of Wednesday, April 22, when the Liberian-flagged vessel (94,769 dwt) was sailing approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Oman.
Initial Incident: Around 06:50 local time, the Epaminondas was approached by a manned speed boat and reported being fired upon.
Iranian Claims: Hours later, Iranian media, citing the Revolutionary Guard, announced that both the Epaminondas and the MSC Francesca had been seized and were being redirected to Iran.
Initial Denial: Both the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Technomar initially denied the seizure, with the company describing the event only as a “security incident.”
Confirmation: Late Wednesday, Technomar issued a revised statement confirming that the vessel had indeed been boarded and seized by Iranian forces, finalizing the confirmation of the incident.
The seizure carries significant geopolitical weight. According to US media reports, the White House has indicated that President Donald Trump does not view the seizure of the two vessels by Iran as a violation of the current ceasefire, a statement that has added a complex layer to the international diplomatic response.
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