Singapore-flagged container ship sank in Strait of Hormuz

The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride sank after being hit by a shell while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported on October 14 by the Reuters news agency, citing sources in the field of maritime security.

"The GFS Pride vessel was damaged, a fire broke out on board, after which it sank. 21 crew members were safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported," the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the container ship passed through the strait on October 13. The vessel's capacity was 2,824 twenty-foot containers. After the projectile hit, a fire started on board, which led to the flooding of the ship.

The Singapore Department expressed serious concern about the ongoing attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. They stressed that such attacks are unjustified and violate international law.

In addition, sources told Reuters that the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo ship Cape Dao may also sink near the strait. The vessel was damaged as a result of a shell hit on September 23. According to the British company Vanguard, attempts to rescue him were unsuccessful.

According to the agency, the number of attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz has increased significantly over the past 10 days. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), GFS Pride became the second ship to sink since the beginning of the conflict between the United States and Iran on February 28.

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On the same day, the Reuters news agency reported that Iran had begun using new tactics against ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In this regard, the number of attacks has increased to the maximum since the beginning of the conflict. Tehran is seeking to keep oil prices high and thereby influence the upcoming midterm elections in the United States by its own methods. The new strategy calls for more frequent attacks on ships, as well as geographical expansion beyond the strait.