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Iran released dramatic footage showing its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces seizing MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) is a privately owned company, which is quite rare for a global giant of its size, European commercial container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions with the US. The video reportedly shows armed personnel boarding vessels and taking control, with Iran claiming the ships violated maritime regulations and entered the waterway without proper coordination. The seizures follow gunfire incidents and come despite a ceasefire extension announced by Donald Trump, raising concerns over growing instability in a critical global oil routehttps://www.youtube.com/live/V5LDKX8q1j8?si=yv-GwzOesQ9CsGcfMSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) is a privately owned company, which is quite rare for a global giant of its size. It is entirely owned and controlled by the Aponte family. ​As of April 2026, the ownership structure has recently transitioned to the next generation: ​Key Owners & Leadership​Diego Aponte: Group President and co-owner. He took over the role of President and CEO from his father in 2014 and now holds a primary ownership stake. ​Alexa Aponte Vago: Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and co-owner. She is the daughter of the founder and shares ownership with her brother, Diego. ​Gianluigi Aponte: The founder and Executive Chairman. While he officially transferred ownership to his children in late 2025/early 2026, he remains the visionary leader of the group. ​Company Background​Founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte and his wife, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, MSC began with a single small ship. Today, it is the world's largest container shipping line, surpassing Maersk in fleet capacity. Because it is a private family business, it does not have public shareholders and is known for being relatively secretive about its financial specifics, though it is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ​Beyond cargo ships, the family also owns MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately held cruise line, and various port terminal and logistics subsidiaries.