Hundreds of fishermen along Iran’s Gulf coast took to the waters in small fishing boats and salvage vessels following the sinking of the container ship GFS Pride on October 14, aggressively racing to collect floating boxes of iPhones, French perfume, and other high-value cargo.
Footage from the area showed boats navigating through partially submerged containers as men scrambled to pull crates out of the water. In one viral video, a small fishing boat was seen struggling to tow an entire shipping container. “Estamos gathering and heading towards the Strait of Hormuz,” one man remarked in a video clip. “We heard a container ship sank, so we’re going to collect iPhones and perfume.”
What Caused the Vessel to Sink?
Singapore, under whose flag the GFS Pride sailed, reported that the vessel sank after a major fire broke out onboard. All 21 crew members were evacuated safely without any reported injuries. However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed that the ship had entered an “unauthorised and dangerous” navigational route before striking a sea mine, which triggered the onboard fire.
The vessel went down carrying more than 2,500 containers. The sinking occurs amid an intense escalation of attacks on commercial shipping in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz. IRGC strikes have reached their highest operational tempo since the outbreak of the conflict in late February, although relatively few vessels have been entirely sunk.
The GFS Pride marked the second ship to sink within a 24-hour window and the third since the war began. The first was the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao, which was lost in an attack on September 23.
The IRGC Navy has issued warnings keeping ships away from the disaster zone while urging local fishermen to exercise extreme caution around floating containers drifting on the surface.
Iran Links Strait’s Reopening to US Withdrawal
Meanwhile, Tehran made it clear on Friday that the eventual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends entirely on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region.
Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, a spokesman for the Iranian army, warned that Iranian forces would forcefully drive U.S. troops out if they remained.
“If America leaves the region, the Strait of Hormuz will open, collective security will be established with the participation of regional states, and the global economy will improve. And if it does not leave, we will expel it,” Akraminia stated.
Placing direct blame on Washington for maritime insecurity east of the strait, Akraminia urged shipowners to utilize designated shipping corridors established by Iran’s armed forces, claiming that vessels adhering to the route would remain safe.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com