Two Ships Including a Singapore-Flagged Oil Tanker Sink Near Hormuz as Iran Escalates Maritime Attacks

Two commercial vessels have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz, including a Singapore-flagged container ship that caught fire after being struck by a projectile, as attacks on shipping intensify amid the US-Iran conflict.

The Singapore-flagged GFS Pride sank while transiting the strategic waterway on Tuesday, with all 21 crew members safely evacuated, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Wednesday. No injuries were reported.

In a separate development, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao sank near the strait, weeks after it was struck by a projectile on September 23, according to data from the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO). One crew member was killed in the earlier incident, while the remaining crew were evacuated, maritime sources said.

The sinkings come as attacks around the waterway have surged, with Iran saying it is intensifying strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions introduced last month. The escalation has raised concerns about the safety of commercial vessels navigating a passage vital to global energy supplies and international trade.

The GFS Pride, a container vessel with a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, sustained damage and caught fire before sinking, the MPA said.

“MPA is deeply concerned about the continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the authority said.

“Such attacks are unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law.”

The GFS Pride and Cape Dao are the second and third vessels to have sunk since the US-Iran war began on February 28, according to an analysis of IMO casualty data. The Maltese-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige was hit by a projectile in March and subsequently sank north of the strait.

Threat to Shipping Extends Beyond Oil Tankers

The latest incidents highlight how the maritime security threat is spreading beyond oil tankers to container ships and bulk carriers, putting a wider range of commercial cargo movements at risk.

“The latest incidents reinforce the continuing threat to commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” maritime risk management company MARISKS said on Wednesday.

“The threat is not confined to tankers, with container vessels and bulk carriers also sustaining serious damage.”

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Before the war, about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the waterway, making disruptions a major concern for energy-importing economies, shipping companies and financial markets.

Iran has sought to tighten its control over the strait since US and Israeli strikes began on February 28, restricting maritime traffic to gain leverage over Washington.

According to two senior Iranian officials cited by Reuters, Tehran is increasingly deploying new tactics against vessels transiting the waterway as it seeks to keep oil prices elevated and influence the US midterm elections.

While the United States and Iran have focused attacks on tankers, cargo and container vessels have also been attacked, immobilised or sunk.

The widening threat complicates efforts by shipping operators to assess the risks of transiting the Gulf. Damage to vessels, crew casualties and the prospect of further attacks could force operators to reconsider routes, insurance arrangements and sailing schedules.