Shipping containers have been left floating in the open sea after a cargo vessel sank near the Strait of Hormuz, as attacks on commercial shipping intensify in the region. Two vessels have sunk following
separate incidents, raising fresh concerns over the safety of one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride caught fire and sank on Tuesday after being struck by a projectile, according to maritime security sources. All 21 crew members were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported by Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA).
Fox News reported on the sinking, highlighting the shipping containers left adrift after the vessel went down. A navigational warning issued by Pakistan’s Hydrographer on October 14 also cautioned mariners about floating containers following the sinking.
Containers and debris float at sea off the coast of Oman after reports that two ships have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by projectiles https://t.co/TQDP8UnCIE https://t.co/vth9T0WMYz
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 15, 2026
In a separate incident, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged dry bulk carrier Cape Dao sank near the strait weeks after being hit by a projectile on September 23. One crew member was killed in that attack, while the remaining crew were evacuated, according to maritime sources and data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The two sinkings come amid a sharp rise in attacks around the Strait of Hormuz over the past 10 days. Iran has said it is stepping up strikes in response to a US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions introduced last month.
Three Ships Have Sunk Since US-Iran War Began
The GFS Pride and Cape Dao are the second and third vessels to have sunk since the US-Iran war began on February 28, according to an analysis of IMO casualty data.
Singapore’s maritime authority expressed concern over continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as unjustified and a breach of international law.
Maritime risk management company MARISKS said the latest incidents highlighted the growing danger for vessels travelling through the waterway. It warned that the threat was not limited to oil tankers, as container ships and bulk carriers were also sustaining serious damage.
The UAE-based managers of both GFS Pride and Cape Dao could not be immediately reached for comment, according to Reuters.
