Container ship GFS Pride sinks near Strait of Hormuz; crew rescued
A Singapore-flagged container ship has sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit, reports say. All 21 crew were evacuated. A second vessel was damaged.
Symbolic image · Photo: MC2 Indra Beaufort / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride has sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile and catching fire, Reuters reported, citing sources. All 21 crew members were evacuated without injuries, maritime news site gCaptain reported. Pakistan's hydrographic office warned mariners of floating containers. It is the second vessel to sink since the U.S.-Iran war began on Feb. 28, according to International Maritime Organization data.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said a container ship had struck a naval mine after using an "unauthorized and dangerous route." A second Singapore-flagged ship, GFS Giselle, was also struck on Wednesday and suffered hull damage but reached a safe anchorage under its own power. Its 22 crew are safe.
Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority called the strikes "unprovoked, unjustifiable, and a breach of international law." U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that American forces and regional partners "clearly control" the strait. Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Tehran is using new tactics against ships to keep oil prices high.