Two cargo vessels have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by projectiles in separate incidents, raising fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping along one of the world’s most important energy routes.
The vessels, Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride and Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao, sank within a 24-hour period, maritime officials said on Wednesday.
The incidents come amid a sharp increase in attacks around the strategic waterway over the past 10 days, as Iran steps up its response to a US blockade of Iranian ports and tighter sanctions imposed last month.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said the GFS Pride sustained damage and caught fire before sinking while transiting the strait on Tuesday. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
The vessel had a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units, a standard measure for container ships. Its UAE-based manager, GFS Ship Management FZE, was not immediately available for comment.
The Cape Dao sank near the strait weeks after it was struck by a projectile on September 23, according to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency responsible for regulating international shipping.
One crew member was killed in the earlier attack, while the remaining crew members were evacuated, maritime sources said. The vessel’s UAE-based manager, Peonies Shipmanagement FZE, could not immediately be reached for comment.
An analysis of IMO casualty records indicates that the two ships are the second and third vessels to sink since the US-Iran war began on February 28. The Maltese-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige, which was struck by a projectile in March, also sank north of the strait.
Singapore’s maritime authority expressed concern over the continuing attacks on commercial vessels, describing them as unjustifiable and contrary to international law.
Maritime risk management company MARISKS said the latest incidents highlighted the growing danger facing ships travelling through the region. The threat, it noted, was no longer limited to oil tankers, as container ships and bulk carriers were also suffering serious damage.
Iran Steps Up Pressure on Shipping
The latest sinkings have intensified concerns about maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed before the conflict.
Iran has sought to tighten its control over the waterway since US and Israeli strikes against the country began on February 28, restricting shipping movements as part of its effort to pressure Washington.
Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Tehran was adopting new tactics against vessels passing through the strait, with the aim of keeping oil prices elevated and influencing the US midterm elections.
The growing threat comes as Iran and the United States continue to clash over maritime access, sanctions and the broader conflict.
Although oil tankers have been a major focus of attacks, other commercial vessels have increasingly been caught up in the violence.
In March, the Maltese-flagged Safeen Prestige was hit by a projectile before sinking north of the strait. In April, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked and seized the container ship MSC Francesca.
The latest incidents suggest that ships carrying a wider range of commercial goods face serious risks as tensions continue to escalate.
With the Strait of Hormuz serving as a vital corridor for global energy supplies and international trade, further attacks could disrupt shipping operations, increase insurance and freight costs, and add to volatility in global commodity markets.
