GFS Pride Sinks in Strait of Hormuz Viral Video Appears to Show Floating iPhone Boxes and Perfume

GFS Pride sank in the Strait of Hormuz with all 21 crew members rescued. Viral footage appearing to show floating iPhones remains unverified.

By News National Editorial Team

International News | October 16, 2026

A Singapore-flagged container ship, GFS Pride, sank in the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by unidentified projectiles and catching fire, according to Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority. All 21 crew members were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.

The incident attracted further attention after videos circulated on social media appearing to show boxes described as iPhones and bottles of luxury perfume floating in the sea. However, the footage has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether the products shown came from the sunken vessel.

What Happened to the GFS Pride?

According to Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority, GFS Pride was reportedly struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on October 13, Singapore time. The vessel sustained damage, caught fire and subsequently sank.

The authority confirmed that all 21 crew members were evacuated safely. It also reported a separate incident involving GFS Giselle, another Singapore-registered container vessel that sustained hull damage but reached a safe anchorage under its own power.

Singapore condemned the attacks on commercial shipping and warned that such incidents endanger vessels and seafarers.

What Does the Viral Video Show?

Videos shared online appear to show packages and boxes floating in the water, with some posts identifying them as iPhones and expensive perfumes. Other footage appears to show small boats approaching floating goods.

However, the authenticity and provenance of the videos remain uncertain. Media reports from India Today and The National said they could not independently confirm where or when the footage was filmed or establish that it was directly connected to the GFS Pride sinking.

The ship’s cargo manifest—the official list of goods carried aboard—was not available in the reports reviewed. Therefore, claims about the number of iPhones lost, the brands involved or the financial value of the cargo cannot be confirmed.

Was the Ship Hit by a Missile or a Naval Mine?

The exact circumstances of the sinking remain disputed. Singapore’s maritime authority reported that the vessel was struck by unidentified projectiles.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that the ship sank after hitting a naval mine while travelling along a route it described as unauthorised. That explanation has not been independently established by the evidence reviewed.

Investigators would need further evidence to determine the precise cause of the sinking and identify responsibility for the incident.

Why Is the Strait of Hormuz Important?

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. It is a critical route for international energy shipments and commercial shipping.

Attacks on vessels in and around the waterway have raised concerns about crew safety, cargo losses, maritime insurance costs and disruptions to global supply chains. The sinking of a container ship also creates navigational hazards when containers and debris remain in the water.

What Is Confirmed So Far?

The sinking of GFS Pride and the safe evacuation of its 21 crew members were confirmed by Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority. Reports also confirm that videos purporting to show floating iPhone boxes and perfume circulated online.

What remains unconfirmed is whether the products shown in those videos came from GFS Pride, what cargo the ship was carrying when it sank and the precise cause of the incident.

Until the footage and cargo information are independently authenticated, claims that thousands of iPhones were lost at sea should be treated with caution.

Sources

1. Singapore Maritime and Port Authority — Official statement on GFS Pride and GFS Giselle

2. Reuters — Container ship sinks near Hormuz after being hit by projectile

3. The National — What we know about the ship lost in the Strait of Hormuz

4. India Today — Report on the viral video of apparent iPhones and perfumes