Two commercial ships have sunk in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by projectiles in separate events within the past 24 hours, maritime officials said. The attacks are part of a wider uptick in strikes around the strategic waterway over the past 10 days, officials added.
The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride - a small box vessel with capacity for 2,824 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) - was struck and subsequently sank while transiting the strait, maritime security sources said. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) provided an account of the incident, saying:
"GFS PRIDE sustained damage and a fire on board, and has since sunk. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported."
The MPA noted the vessel had been passing through the strait on Tuesday. GFS Pride is managed from the United Arab Emirates by GFS Ship Management FZE, which could not be reached for immediate comment.
In a separate case, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged dry bulk carrier Cape Dao sank close to the strait after being struck by a projectile on September 23, according to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Maritime sources said one crew member was killed in that attack, and that the remaining crew evacuated immediately after the strike. The vessel's UAE-based manager, Peonies Shipmanagement FZE, was not immediately available for comment.
Analysis of IMO casualty data indicates the GFS Pride and the Cape Dao are the second and third vessels to have gone down since the US-Iran war began on February 28.
Authorities' response and industry commentary
The MPA expressed alarm at the pattern of attacks, saying it was deeply concerned about the continuing targeting of commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The authority described such actions as unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law.
Maritime risk management firm MARISKS highlighted that the threat environment extends beyond tankers. "The latest incidents reinforce the continuing threat to commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz," the company said, noting that container vessels and bulk carriers have also sustained serious damage in recent weeks.
Context and motivations cited
Officials have linked the recent surge in attacks to Iran's stated response to a U.S. blockade of its ports and the introduction of tougher sanctions last month. Tehran has been pursuing measures to tighten control over the waterway since strikes on Iran on February 28, restricting transit to gain leverage over Washington, according to the reporting.
Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran is deploying new tactics against vessels transiting the strait as part of efforts to keep oil prices elevated and to influence U.S. midterm elections. While much of the direct confrontation between Iran and the United States has focused on tankers, cargo and container ships have also been targeted, immobilised or sunk in separate incidents.
Past incidents cited in maritime records include the Maltese-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige, which was struck by a projectile in March and later sank north of the Strait of Hormuz, and the April attack by Iran's Revolutionary Guards that led to the seizure of the container vessel MSC Francesca.
Operational and market implications
The Strait of Hormuz was noted as carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the conflict began. The recent sinkings and the broader campaign to curb transit underscore a heightened security risk for vessels and operators in the corridor. Maritime insurers, ship operators and commodity market participants are among the sectors directly affected by the widening scope of attacks.
Authorities and industry monitors say the threat is not limited to traditional energy tankers, with container and bulk shipping now demonstrably at risk. The evolving pattern of strikes complicates operational planning, crew safety considerations, and insurance exposures for commercial shipping using the strait.
Details remain limited to the incidents reported by maritime authorities and the IMO. Investigations and official statements are continuing.