A container ship and a dry bulk carrier have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by projectiles, maritime officials said. Attacks around the waterway have surged, and Iran says it is stepping up strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports.
A container ship and a dry bulk carrier both sank near the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after projectile hits in separate incidents, maritime officials said on Wednesday. Attacks around the waterway have surged over the past 10 days.
Iran says it is stepping up strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions introduced last month.
Two separate sinkings
The Singapore-flagged GFS Pride, a small container vessel with a capacity of 2,824 20-foot equivalent units, sank while sailing through the strait, according to maritime security sources. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the ship suffered damage and a fire, and all 21 crew members were safely evacuated.
Meanwhile, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao sank close to the strait weeks after a projectile struck it on September 23, according to International Maritime Organization data. One crew member was killed, and the rest of the crew evacuated straight after the strike, maritime sources said.
Together, the two vessels are the second and third to have sunk since the US-Iran war began on February 28, according to an analysis of IMO casualty data.
Shipping risk widens beyond tankers
The Singapore authority condemned the attacks. According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore: "Such attacks are unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law."
Maritime risk management company MARISKS said the threat is not confined to tankers, with container vessels and bulk carriers also sustaining serious damage.
Iran tightens its grip
About a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the strait before the war. Tehran has sought to tighten its grip on the waterway since US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, restricting transit to gain leverage over Washington.
Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran is increasingly deploying new tactics against vessels as it seeks to keep oil prices elevated and influence US midterm elections.
Earlier cargo ship incidents include the Safeen Prestige, which was hit by a projectile in March and later sank, and the MSC Francesca, which Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized in April.
Source: Reuters via Investing.com
Trading involves risk.
Risk Disclaimer
