The GFS Pride, a container vessel with a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), sank while transiting the strategic waterway, the sources told Reuters on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said the vessel sustained damage and caught fire before sinking. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The ship had been sailing through the strait on Tuesday.
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The authority expressed concern over continued attacks on commercial shipping in the area, describing them as unjustifiable and a breach of international law.
The sinking marks the second vessel loss since the US-Iran war began on February 28, according to data from the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ shipping agency.
The incident comes amid a sharp increase in threats to commercial vessels around the Strait of Hormuz over the past 10 days. Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the waterway, making it a critical route for international energy supplies.
Iran has sought to tighten its control over the strait since US and Israeli strikes on the country began in February, restricting maritime transit in an effort to gain leverage over Washington. The United States, meanwhile, has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and expanded sanctions against Tehran.
Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran was increasingly using new tactics against vessels passing through the strait as it seeks to keep oil prices elevated and influence the US midterm elections.
Although attacks have primarily targeted oil tankers, cargo and container ships have also come under fire, with some vessels damaged, immobilised or sunk.
In a separate incident, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao was reported to be sinking near the strait following an unsuccessful rescue attempt. The vessel had been struck by a projectile on September 23, according to maritime security sources.
British maritime risk management company Vanguard confirmed the latest development in a note on Wednesday. The ship’s UAE-based manager, Peonies Shipmanagement FZE, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige was also struck by a projectile in March before sinking north of the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest incidents highlight the growing risks facing commercial shipping along one of the world’s most important maritime routes as the conflict continues to disrupt regional trade and energy transportation.
