Image for representation purposes only A Singapore-flagged container ship has sunk in the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by an unidentified projectile and catching fire, while a second Singapore-registered vessel was damaged in a separate attack. All 21 crew members aboard the GFS Pride were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said on Wednesday. The ship was sailing through the strait on Tuesday, October 13, when it was hit. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the vessel struck a naval mine, but maritime security firm MARISKS said there was no independent evidence to confirm that claim. Containers were reported floating in the water after the ship sank, according to a navigational warning issued by Pakistani maritime authorities. More than 20 vessels, mostly oil tankers, have come under attack this month, according to incident reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The disruption is also affecting oil shipments. Crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 8.5 million barrels per day in the week ending October 12, nearly 40% below normal pre-war levels, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. The GFS Pride, which is managed by UAE-based GFS Ship Management FZE, has a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the vessel was carrying more than 2,500 containers and had attempted to use what they described as an unauthorised and dangerous route. The Guards said the ship caught fire and sank after hitting a naval mine. The cause of the sinking has not been independently confirmed. In a statement, Singapore’s MPA said it was deeply concerned about continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The MPA also reported damage to the hull of another Singapore-registered container ship, the GFS Giselle, after it was struck by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, October 14. The vessel reached a safe anchorage, an