DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — October 14, 2026 — A Singapore-registered container ship sank near the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by a projectile, while a second vessel was damaged in a separate strike on Wednesday, in the sharpest escalation of attacks on commercial shipping since the US-Iran war began in February.
Vessel Sinks After Projectile Strike
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Wednesday that two Singapore-registered container vessels were hit by unknown projectiles while transiting the strait. The GFS Pride was struck on October 13, sustaining damage before a fire broke out on board; the vessel subsequently sank, the authority said. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.
The second vessel, GFS Giselle, was struck on October 14 and suffered hull damage but reached a safe anchorage under its own propulsion, with all 22 crew members safe, maritime officials said. There were no Singaporeans among the crew of either vessel.
Pakistan’s hydrographer issued a navigational warning dated October 14 alerting mariners that the GFS Pride was “reported sunk with floating containers” and urging caution in the area, shipping sources said.
Second Vessel Lost Since War Began
The loss of the GFS Pride marks the second vessel to sink since the US-Iran conflict began on February 28, according to data from the UN shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization.
In a separate incident, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao, which was struck by a projectile on September 23, is now reported to be sinking after an unsuccessful rescue attempt, maritime security sources said. British risk-management group Vanguard said in a note on Wednesday that the vessel was “reported to be sinking after an unsuccessful rescue attempt.”
Iran Deploying New Tactics, Officials Tell Reuters
Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Tehran is deploying new tactics to target ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections. Attacks on commercial vessels around the strait have surged to their highest level since the war began, with at least five incidents in the past 48 hours, according to UKMTO data and maritime security sources.
The officials said Iran is deliberately increasing the tempo of attacks and expanding their scope beyond the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and waters off Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Shipping sources said Iran is increasingly targeting ship-to-ship oil transfers in the region.
‘Unprovoked and Unjustifiable’
The MPA said it was in contact with the vessels’ management company and was closely monitoring the situation. “MPA is deeply concerned about the continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, including the latest incidents involving two Singapore-registered vessels,” the authority said in a statement. “Such attacks are unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law.”
The strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical chokepoints, carrying a large share of global oil and gas shipments. The renewed surge in strikes has raised fresh concerns about insurance costs, freight rates and energy security as the standoff between Washington and Tehran enters its eighth month.
