Two ships sink near Hormuz after being hit by projectiles as attacks surge
USO•A container ship and a dry bulk carrier sank near the Strait of Hormuz in separate incidents in the past 24 hours after being hit by projectiles. The sinkings bring to three the number of vessels sunk since the US-Iran war began, according to an analysis of casualty data.
1. Two vessels sink
The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride sank while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz after sustaining damage and catching fire, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said. All 21 crew members were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported. The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged dry bulk carrier Cape Dao sank close to the strait weeks after it was struck by a projectile on September 23; one crew member was killed and the rest were evacuated.
2. Attacks intensify
Attacks around the waterway have surged over the past 10 days, as Iran says it is stepping up strikes in response to a US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions introduced last month. Iranian officials said Tehran is deploying new tactics against vessels, while maritime risk management company MARISKS said container vessels and bulk carriers, as well as tankers, face serious damage. About a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the strait before the war.
