Cargo ships sink near Strait of Hormuz as maritime attacks escalate

Two commercial vessels have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz following separate projectile attacks, raising fresh concerns about the safety of international shipping through one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors.

The incidents, reported on Wednesday, 14 October, come amid a sharp escalation in attacks on merchant shipping, with Iran intensifying its military campaign in response to a United States blockade of its ports and tougher economic sanctions.

The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, with a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), sank after sustaining damage and catching fire while transiting the strait on Tuesday.

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority confirmed that all 21 crew members had been safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.

Pakistan's hydrographic authorities subsequently issued a navigational warning about floating containers from the sunken vessel, presenting an additional hazard to ships navigating the already dangerous waterway.

In a separate incident, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged dry bulk carrier Cape Dao also sank after an unsuccessful salvage operation.

The vessel had originally been struck by a projectile on 23 September and remained damaged near the strait before its condition deteriorated. One crew member was reported to have died following the earlier attack.

British maritime risk management company Vanguard confirmed that attempts to save the bulk carrier had failed.

The two sinkings represent a further deterioration in maritime security since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict on 28 February.

Iran has acknowledged stepping up its campaign against commercial shipping, arguing that its actions are a response to American restrictions on Iranian maritime trade. Two senior Iranian officials said Tehran was employing new tactics to disrupt shipping through the strait, with the aim of sustaining pressure on global oil prices and influencing US political developments.

Renewed disruption in the Strait threatens to maintain upward pressure on international oil prices, freight charges and marine insurance premiums. Higher shipping costs and prolonged will impact importers, exporters and consumers through increased transport expenses and inflationary pressure.

The latest attacks underline the growing risks facing commercial shipping operators as military tensions increasingly spill over into international trade routes.

Sources: Reuters, 14–15 October 2026; Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore; International Maritime Organization; Vanguard maritime security reports; Associated Press, 14 October 2026.