Russian outlets report two ships sank near Hormuz Strait after earlier strikes
In short
Russian outlets reported that two commercial ships sank near the Strait of Hormuz on October 14. Kommersant named them as GFS Pride and Cape Dao, while reports differed on vessel types and the cause of damage.
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Two commercial ships sank near the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports carried by Russian outlets on October 14 and 15. Interfax, citing The Guardian, described a container ship and a bulk carrier that sank after Iranian strikes on October 14. Kommersant described both vessels as container ships and named them as GFS Pride, under Singapore's flag, and Cape Dao, under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. [ 15 , 16 ]
Kommersant reported that Cape Dao sank near the strait after having come under fire on September 23. The outlet also said Iranian state television, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that a container ship sank after striking a naval mine. It said The Guardian suggested that statement referred to GFS Pride. In contrast, Kommersant reported that the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, UKMTO, suspected both ships had been damaged by unidentified projectiles. [ 16 ]
Earlier coverage concerned several other reports of attacks. Interfax reported on October 11 that an unnamed tanker was struck on its port side by a projectile of unknown origin, causing a fire. Citing UKMTO, it said no crew members were injured and no environmental damage had been reported. UKMTO advised vessels in the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity while the incident was investigated. [ 3 ]
On October 12, TASS reported that an unnamed tanker and a container ship had been struck by unidentified projectiles in incidents on October 11. Vedomosti later reported UKMTO statements about a container ship and a tanker coming under fire. The supplied reports do not identify those unnamed vessels as GFS Pride or Cape Dao. [ 10 , 13 , 16 ]
Why it matters
The reports follow a series of attacks on commercial shipping in and around the strait. The supplied coverage gives conflicting accounts of how the ships were damaged and does not establish whether earlier reports of unnamed tankers concern the same vessels.
Key facts
- Interfax reported on October 14, citing The Guardian, that a container ship and a bulk carrier had sunk in the Hormuz area after Iranian strikes. [ 15 ]
- Kommersant described two sunken container ships, naming Singapore-flagged GFS Pride and Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao. [ 16 ]
- Kommersant reported that Cape Dao had been attacked on September 23 before sinking. [ 16 ]
- Kommersant cited differing mine and unidentified-projectile accounts of the damage. [ 16 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The precise types of the two sunken vessels. Interfax describes a container ship and a bulk carrier; Kommersant describes two container ships.
- What caused the ships' damage. Kommersant relays an Iranian mine account and UKMTO's suspicion of unidentified projectiles.
- Whether earlier reports about unnamed vessels concern the same ships. The documents cover incidents over several dates without matching the unnamed vessels to the two named ships.