Two Ships Sink Near Strait of Hormuz After Projectile Strikes

A Singapore-flagged container ship and an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by projectiles, maritime authorities reported on 14 October.

The GFS Pride, a 2,824 TEU vessel built in 2008 and managed by a UAE-based firm, was struck on 13 October while transiting the strait. It sustained damage and a fire before sinking. All 21 crew members were evacuated with no injuries, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Pakistan's National Hydrographic Office issued a navigational warning that the vessel sank about 4 nautical miles northwest of Ras al-Sheikh Masud in Oman's Musandam Peninsula, with floating containers noted in the area.

Separately, the Cape Dao sank on 14 October. It had been struck by a projectile on 23 September. One crew member was killed in that earlier incident; the rest of the crew was evacuated. Data from the International Maritime Organization confirmed the loss.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy stated that a cargo ship hit a naval mine while traveling on what it called an illegal and dangerous route. The IRGC released images showing smoke and floating containers. Singapore and other maritime sources described the strikes as projectile hits rather than confirmed mines. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported multiple incidents involving unknown projectiles on container vessels around the same period.

Attacks in the waterway have increased sharply over the past 10 days. Maritime security firms and shipping data indicate more than 20 vessels targeted in October so far, the highest frequency since the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel began in late February 2026. Several refined-product and crude tankers have also been hit in recent weeks. The tempo has coincided with reduced oil flows through the strait as shipowners reroute or delay passages.

The losses mark the second and third ships to sink in the conflict, according to IMO tracking. Earlier incidents left vessels damaged but afloat. Salvage and environmental response for the floating containers from the GFS Pride will take time, while the Cape Dao's earlier damage had already forced its abandonment.

Regional officials and shipping analysts note that the pattern aligns with Iranian statements about deploying new tactics against vessels judged non-compliant with Tehran's restrictions. The U.S. has continued efforts to shepherd commercial traffic through the strait despite the risks. Insurance premiums and tanker rates have risen with the renewed intensity.

The incidents add pressure on global energy markets ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on 3 November. Higher insurance and diversion costs can lift fuel prices even if total volumes eventually recover. Crew safety remains the immediate concern for the operators of both vessels.