Two Cargo Ships Sink Near Strait of Hormuz Following Projectile Attacks

Two vessels, a container ship and a dry bulk carrier, have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours after being struck by projectiles in separate incidents, maritime officials said on Wednesday.

Attacks on commercial shipping in and around the strategic waterway have intensified over the past 10 days, with Iran saying it is escalating strikes in response to a US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions imposed last month.

The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, which has a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), sank while transiting the strait, according to maritime security sources.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed that the vessel sustained damage and caught fire before sinking. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

In a separate incident, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged dry bulk carrier Cape Dao sank near the strait, weeks after being struck by a projectile on September 23, according to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

One crew member was killed in the incident, while the remaining crew members were evacuated immediately after the strike, maritime sources said.

The UAE-based manager of Cape Dao, Peonies Shipmanagement FZE, could not immediately be reached for comment. GFS Ship Management FZE, the UAE-based manager of GFS Pride, was also unavailable for comment.

The two vessels are the second and third ships to have sunk since the US-Iran war began on February 28, according to an analysis of IMO casualty data.

The MPA expressed deep concern over the continued attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as unjustifiable and a breach of international law.

Maritime risk management company MARISKS warned that the latest incidents underscored the ongoing threat to commercial shipping in the region. It noted that the danger was no longer limited to oil tankers, as container ships and bulk carriers were also sustaining serious damage.

Iran Tightens Grip on Strategic Waterway

The escalation in attacks has heightened concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed before the war.

Tehran has sought to strengthen its control over the waterway following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, restricting maritime transit in an effort to increase pressure on Washington.

Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran was increasingly deploying new tactics against vessels using the strait, seeking to keep oil prices elevated and influence the US midterm elections.

Although attacks have largely focused on tankers, other commercial vessels have also come under fire, been immobilised or sunk.

In March, the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige was struck by a projectile and subsequently sank north of the Strait of Hormuz.

In April, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked and seized the container ship MSC Francesca, further raising concerns about the safety of international shipping through the vital maritime corridor.

Source: Reuters | Agencies