Strait of Hormuz Sees Further Attacks as Two Commercial Vessels Sink

Source: Peter Hermes Furian /Adobe Stock 

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to face mounting pressure from attacks on commercial vessels. The latest incidents have affected container ships operated by Global Feeder Shipping (GFS) and Safeen Feeders, raising further concerns about maritime safety in the region.

Container Ships Targeted in Attacks

The GFS Pride, a Singapore-flagged feeder vessel built in 2008 with a capacity of 2,824 TEU, was struck by an object described by authorities as an “unidentified projectile” on Tuesday. The vessel, operated by Dubai-based Global Feeder Shipping (GFS), subsequently caught fire and sank.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed that all 21 crew members were safely evacuated and that there were no casualties.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s hydrographic authority issued a navigational warning after multiple containers were spotted drifting at sea approximately four nautical miles northwest of Ras Shaykh Masud, off the coast of Oman. The area was identified as being close to the location where the GFS Pride sank.

Another GFS-operated container ship, the GFS Giselle, sustained hull damage in a separate attack on Wednesday, Singapore time. The Singapore-flagged vessel was built in 2015 and has a capacity of 4,400 TEU. Despite the damage, it was able to proceed under its own power to a safe anchorage. All 22 crew members were reported safe.

Feeder Operators Linked to AD Ports Group Affected

The incidents have affected feeder operators associated with AD Ports Group. In June, the group increased its stake in GFS to 81%. Safeen Feeders, another feeder operator within the group, also had a vessel targeted in the latest wave of incidents.

The Al Saadiyat, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel with a capacity of 1,730 TEU, was attacked while departing port. According to available reports, the vessel did not sustain serious damage.

In a separate incident, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an attack on an oil tanker. Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified the targeted vessel as the Alfonso, a Barbados-flagged tanker with a deadweight tonnage of 38,842 DWT. However, the vessel's identity and condition have not been independently confirmed.

Capesize Bulker Cape Dao Sinks

In a separate development, the 170,000-DWT Capesize bulk carrier Cape Dao sank nearly three weeks after being attacked off Oman's Musandam Peninsula.

The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged vessel, built in 2002, was attacked on September 23. The incident sparked a fire in the engine room, killing one Indian crew member and forcing the emergency evacuation of the remaining 27 crew members.

According to Vanguard, efforts to salvage the vessel were unsuccessful. The IMO has now recorded the Cape Dao as having sunk.

Iran's Claims and US Military Action

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that an unidentified container ship struck a sea mine while transiting the Strait of Hormuz along a route it considered unauthorized. The claim has not been independently verified. Meanwhile, Singaporean authorities said that two GFS vessels had been struck by unidentified objects.

In a separate development, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that US forces had destroyed an Iranian-linked traditional dhow in the Gulf of Oman on October 6. Washington alleged that the vessel had been used to surveil and target US Navy warships.

According to the information released, the crew had abandoned the vessel before it was destroyed. Repatriation arrangements for the crew members are still underway.

According to IMO figures, the latest incidents bring the total number of confirmed maritime incidents in the region to 113 since the conflict began in late February. These incidents have resulted in the deaths of 24 seafarers.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Splash247)

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