A Singapore-flagged container ship has sunk after being struck by an unidentified projectile while travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Singaporean maritime authorities. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
The vessel, GFS Pride, was damaged in the incident on Tuesday, which also triggered a fire on board, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.
In a separate incident, another Singapore-flagged container ship, GFS Giselle, sustained hull damage after being struck by a projectile on Wednesday. The vessel managed to reach a safe anchorage, with all 22 crew members reported safe.
The incidents add to growing concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping route that has experienced repeated attacks on commercial vessels amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Iran Claims Ship Sank After Hitting Naval Mines
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said a vessel had struck naval mines while travelling along a route it considered unauthorised in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the ship's sinking.
Images released by the Guards appeared to show a container vessel still afloat but listing heavily, with thick black smoke rising from the ship. Other photographs showed shipping containers and their contents floating in the surrounding waters.
Pakistan's Hydrographer issued a warning to mariners confirming that GFS Pride had sunk approximately four nautical miles (7.4 kilometres) north-west of Ras al-Sheikh Masud, on Oman's Musandam Peninsula.
The circumstances surrounding the sinking, including the precise cause of the damage, remain central to the investigation into the incident.
UK Maritime Agency Reports Further Ship Attacks
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency separately reported that two unidentified container ships had been struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
According to the agency, the incidents occurred between 16:40 and 17:00 GMT. Both vessels sustained minor damage but were able to continue their journeys.
The latest reports highlight the continuing risks faced by commercial shipping operators and seafarers navigating the strategic waterway.
Since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran in February, merchant vessels have faced repeated attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and other parts of the Middle East.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recorded 106 confirmed incidents involving attacks on shipping, with at least 24 seafarers killed.
The Singapore-flagged GFS Pride is not the only container ship reported to have sunk during this period. The Malta-flagged container vessel Safeen Prestige also sank after being attacked near Oman on 4 March.
Another Cargo Ship Reportedly Sinking
Meanwhile, maritime risk management company Vanguard reported on Wednesday that the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao was believed to be sinking after an unsuccessful rescue operation, according to Reuters.
One seafarer was killed when an unidentified projectile struck the vessel's bridge and accommodation area on 23 September. The ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz north-east of Khasab, Oman, when the incident occurred.
The reported condition of the Cape Dao adds to concerns about the safety of crews and the vulnerability of commercial vessels operating in the region.
Strait of Hormuz Remains a Critical Global Shipping Route
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors.
Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments typically passed through the narrow waterway. Its effective closure following the outbreak of war disrupted commercial shipping and heightened concerns over global energy supplies.
Iranian missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels, alongside a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, severely restricted maritime traffic through the strait.
A preliminary agreement reached between Washington and Tehran in June aimed to end the war and reopen the waterway. However, the agreement collapsed within weeks as attacks on shipping resumed and the United States reinstated its blockade.
Iran has maintained that it should retain a degree of control over the strategic passage. It subsequently began targeting vessels using a southern shipping route through Omani waters, which bypasses the route preferred by Tehran through Iranian territorial waters.
In response to the threat, the US military has provided protection for tankers transporting oil through the strait to help maintain exports from Gulf Arab states.
Oil Shipments Recover Despite Rising Security Risks
Despite renewed attacks on commercial shipping, crude oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz showed signs of recovery last month.
Analysts at shipping data company Kpler estimated that crude exports through the waterway had climbed to approximately 80% of pre-war levels. Before the conflict, average daily flows stood at around 16 million barrels per day.
The recovery suggests that some energy shipments have resumed despite persistent security concerns and restrictions on maritime traffic.
However, the sinking of GFS Pride, the damage sustained by GFS Giselle and reports of further attacks underscore the continuing uncertainty surrounding commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
With the waterway remaining essential to global energy supplies, further disruptions could affect shipping operations, oil exports and international energy markets.