Singapore-flagged container ship sinks in Strait of Hormuz after projectile strike; 21 crew safe

Key takeaways

• The Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride caught fire and sank after being struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. All 21 crew were evacuated with no injuries.
• A second Singapore ship, GFS Giselle, suffered hull damage but reached a safe anchorage under its own power. All 22 crew are safe.
• Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) called the attacks "unprovoked, unjustifiable" and a breach of international law.
• Iran's Revolutionary Guards said a ship hit naval mines while using what they called an "unauthorised" route. This version has not been independently confirmed.
• Brent crude rose to about $106 a barrel as tension in the strait increased, CNBC reported.

What happened

According to the MPA, the two container ships were hit while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on 13 and 14 October (Singapore time). GFS Pride was damaged, caught fire and later sank. GFS Giselle was hit a day later; it was damaged but able to move to safety.

The BBC reported that the Hydrographer of Pakistan issued a warning to sailors that GFS Pride sank about 4 nautical miles north-west of Ras al-Sheikh Masud, on Oman's Musandam Peninsula.

Who is responsible?

Singapore did not name an attacker. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said a vessel hit mines and sank on an "unauthorised" route, and released photos of a damaged ship, the BBC said. Separately, a senior Revolutionary Guard commander was reported by CNBC as saying Iran was impatient to sink US warships. US Central Command responded that American forces and regional partners "clearly control" the strait.

Background

Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has been attacked repeatedly since the US-Israel war with Iran began in February 2026. Key figures from the reports:

Before GFS Pride, the only other vessel reported sunk during the conflict was the Malta-flagged Safeen Prestige in March, according to the BBC. A preliminary US-Iran deal in June to reopen the strait collapsed within weeks.

Why it matters for Pakistan and India

Around a fifth of the world's oil and gas shipments normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Higher oil prices feed into fuel and transport costs in import-dependent countries such as Pakistan and India.

What to watch

• Whether the MPA or the ship's managers release more details on what hit the vessels.
• Further attacks on shipping and any change in US naval escort operations.
• Oil price movements and their effect on local fuel prices.

This is a developing story.