Hormuz strikes sink two ships as US launches fresh airstrikes on Iran
Two vessels linked to Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group sank after projectile strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Two commercial vessels have sunk in the Strait of Hormuz region following a new wave of attacks on shipping linked to Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group, escalating tensions in a critical maritime corridor.
The Singapore-flagged GFS Pride, a 2,824 TEU feeder container ship built in 2008, was hit by an unidentified projectile on Tuesday. The vessel, operated by Dubai-based Global Feeder Shipping, caught fire before sinking. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated without injuries, according to Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority. Containers from the ship were later spotted floating about four nautical miles northwest of Ras Shaykh Masud, off Oman, prompting Pakistan’s hydrographer to issue a navigational warning.
A second vessel, the Cape Dao, a 170,000 DWT capesize bulker flagged in Antigua and Barbuda, sank nearly three weeks after being struck off Oman’s Musandam peninsula. The 2002-built ship was hit on September 23, triggering an engine room fire that killed one Indian seafarer and forced the evacuation of the remaining 27 crew members. Salvage attempts failed, and the International Maritime Organization has since listed the vessel as sunk.
Vessels struck and sunk: strait of hormuz
The attacks have targeted a key segment of AD Ports Group’s operations. The Abu Dhabi company increased its stake in Global Feeder Shipping to 81% in June. Another of its feeder operators, Safeen Feeders, also had a vessel hit in the latest wave. The Marshall Islands-flagged Al Saadiyat, a 1,730 TEU container ship, was struck during an outbound transit but escaped serious damage.
A second GFS vessel, the 4,400 TEU GFS Giselle, sustained hull damage in a separate attack on Wednesday but reached safe anchorage under its own power. All 22 crew members aboard the 2015-built ship were unharmed. Meanwhile, the Barbados-flagged tanker Alfonso, carrying 38,842 DWT, was also targeted, though its condition remains unconfirmed.
Broader impact on shipping
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed one containership struck a naval mine while using an unauthorized route through the strait, though this has not been independently verified. Singapore reported that the two GFS vessels were hit by unidentified projectiles.
The latest incidents bring the International Maritime Organization’s tally to 113 confirmed maritime incidents in the region since late February, with 24 seafarers killed. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments pass daily, remains a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict.
In a separate development, the United States launched airstrikes against Iran on Sunday, targeting Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. US Central Command stated the operation aimed to “degrade their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.” The strikes followed Iranian retaliatory actions against Gulf countries hosting American military forces.
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