Two Cargo Ships Sink Near the Strait of Hormuz as Attacks Surge

Two cargo ships have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz, maritime officials said, only the second and third vessels lost since the war between the United States and Iran began on February 28, according to data from the International Maritime Organization, the UN shipping agency.

The Singapore registered container ship GFS Pride was hit by an unknown projectile on Tuesday, October 13, while it passed through the strait. The ship, which can carry 2,824 standard 20 foot containers, caught fire and later sank, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said. All 21 crew members were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. A navigational warning from the Hydrographer of Pakistan on October 14 told other ships to watch for floating containers from the sunken vessel.

A second Singapore ship was hit

A second Singapore registered container ship, the GFS Giselle, was hit on Wednesday, October 14. The strike damaged its hull, but the ship reached a safe anchorage under its own power. All 22 crew members were safe, and there were no Singaporeans aboard either vessel, the authority said.

The bulk carrier Cape Dao has also sunk, according to IMO data published on Wednesday. The Antigua and Barbuda flagged ship was first hit by a projectile on September 23, in a strike that killed one Indian crew member. The rest of its crew were evacuated at the time. The British maritime risk firm Vanguard said the ship was reported sinking after a rescue attempt failed. The managers of both sunken ships, GFS Ship Management and Peonies Shipmanagement, could not be reached for comment.

What hit the ships is disputed

Video verified by CNN showed black smoke rising from the GFS Pride as the ship took on water. Satellite images taken later showed cargo scattered across the surface and a small oil slick near the site. Iranian state media outlet Press TV reported that the ship had hit a sea mine on a route Tehran does not authorize. Experts cited by CNN cast doubt on that account and said a drone attack was more likely. The cause has not been independently confirmed.

Attacks have surged in the past 10 days

The sinkings come as attacks on shipping around the strait have risen sharply over the past 10 days. Iran says it is stepping up strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions imposed last month. Iranian officials told Reuters earlier this month that the stepped up attacks aim to keep oil prices high ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3. Singapore said it was deeply concerned about the continued attacks on commercial shipping, which it called a breach of international law.

Hormuz carries a large share of the oil and liquefied natural gas that moves by sea, so attacks there reach fuel prices fast. Oil still fell on Thursday morning as traders weighed a possible US move to ease sanctions on shadow fleet tankers. Brent crude for December delivery traded at $104.29 a barrel, down 1.67 percent, while US crude for November delivery was at $94.01, down 1.14 percent.