Two Cargo Ships Sink Near the Strait of Hormuz as Attacks on Shipping Surge

The second vessel, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao, had been hit by a projectile on 23 September and went down close to the strait, per IMO data released on Wednesday. One crew member, identified by CNN as an Indian national, was killed in the original strike, and the rest were evacuated at once.

Who is responsible for the attacks?

That is contested. Iranian state media outlet Press TV said the GFS Pride hit a sea mine on an unauthorized route, but experts told CNN they think a drone attack is more likely. CNN verified video of black smoke and later footage and satellite images showing cargo in the water and a small oil slick. Charlie Brown, a former US Navy officer now with United Against Nuclear Iran, called the sinking a dangerous escalation.

Singapore's maritime authority said it was deeply concerned and called attacks on commercial shipping unprovoked and a breach of international law, without naming a culprit. Iran has said it is stepping up strikes in response to the US blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions. Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Tehran is increasingly using new tactics against ships in transit, aiming to keep oil prices high and influence US midterm elections. Neither report says what those tactics are. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre logged nine attacks in or near the strait since Monday, including a drone strike on a tanker, CNN said.

What does it mean for oil flows?

Before the war the strait carried about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. Kpler data cited by CNN showed 4.147 million barrels transiting on Monday, less than a quarter of pre-war levels. The US military continues to enforce its blockade of Iranian ports, and the sinkings land as Tehran and Washington trade accusations over the strait, which we followed in our report on Iran's rejection of the US reply.

The question now is whether insurers and owners treat the strait as survivable. A maritime risk firm, MARISKS, told Reuters the threat is not confined to tankers, and that is likely to be reflected in premiums and routing in the days ahead.