Two commercial vessels have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz following projectile strikes with marking a sharp escalation in maritime risks across the vital trade route.
The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride caught fire and sank on Tuesday after being hit while transiting the strait. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed all 21 crew members were evacuated safely without injuries.
In a separate development, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao sank weeks after sustaining a strike on September 23 that killed one crew member. The remaining crew was evacuated immediately following the initial attack.
The sinkings represent the second and third commercial ships lost since conflict erupted on February 28. Attacks around the waterway have intensified over the past 10 days, with Iranian officials citing responses to US port blockades and tightened sanctions.
Risk analysts caution that threats now extend beyond oil tankers to general cargo and container ships. Shipping industry bodies condemned the attacks as unprovoked violations of international maritime law that gravely endanger seafarers.
