The GFS Pride sank while sailing through the strategic waterway, according to sources cited by Reuters. The vessel had a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy had earlier claimed that the ship attempted to cross the strait using an unauthorised and dangerous route before striking a naval mine and catching fire.

The MPA expressed concern over the continuing attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as unprovoked, unjustifiable and a breach of international law.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also received a report that a container ship had been hit by an unidentified projectile. However, it remains unclear whether that incident was connected to the sinking of the GFS Pride.

The vessel was managed by UAE-based GFS Ship Management FZE, which could not immediately be reached for comment.

Iran’s Guards also warned local vessels and fishermen to exercise caution amid the security risks in the region.

Second Ship Reported Sinking Near Strait of Hormuz

The sinking of the GFS Pride marks the second reported vessel loss since the US-Iran war began on February 28, according to information cited from the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ shipping agency.

In a separate incident, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao was reportedly sinking near the strait after being struck by a projectile on September 23.

British maritime risk management group Vanguard said the vessel was reported to be sinking after an unsuccessful rescue attempt.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that three fishermen were injured when a fishing boat was struck in an incident involving an unidentified drone near Sirik, in the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan.

The incident was described as an attack by a US drone, but Iranian authorities had not officially confirmed the circumstances or identified those responsible.

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Disrupted by US-Iran War

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international shipping route for global oil and gas supplies. Before the war, around 125 to 140 large commercial vessels, including oil tankers, gas carriers and container ships, passed through the waterway each day.

Shipping traffic effectively came to a standstill on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes across Iran.

Although maritime traffic appeared to have increased in recent months, two senior Iranian officials told The Independent that Tehran was adopting new tactics to target ships using the passage.

According to the officials, Iran’s strategy aims to frustrate US and allied efforts to reduce global oil prices and could extend beyond the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and other waters.

One official said the objective was to prevent oil prices from falling ahead of the US midterm elections in November.

Maritime security analysis based on reports to UKMTO and regional security companies suggested that attacks on vessels might already be spreading beyond the strait, including to waters off Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

However, the US military’s Central Command rejected claims that Iran was controlling the waterway.

In a post on X on Tuesday, US Central Command said American forces and regional partners controlled the Strait of Hormuz. It also said US forces had assisted Gulf partners in shipping more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the strait the previous day.

Trump Warns Iran as Regional Tensions Continue

US President Donald Trump has continued to threaten further action against Iran, saying Washington would decide its next move soon.

Speaking outside the White House on Tuesday, Trump described Iran as a failed country and said it had no economy or money.

At a campaign rally later, he warned that the United States would take further action against Tehran, reiterating that Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

The latest maritime incidents highlight continuing security risks around the Strait of Hormuz, where attacks on commercial shipping have raised concerns about international trade, energy supplies and global oil prices.