Cargo Ship Luni Splits and Sinks Near Iran in Strait of Hormuz Incident

Last Tuesday, the cargo ship Luni, flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, catastrophically broke in two and partially sank near Bandar Abbas port in Iran, located in the Strait of Hormuz. The 32-year-old vessel, operated by a Turkish-based company with likely Syrian owners, was en route to Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates when it suffered severe structural damage that caused its midsection to break amid an active conflict zone. Dramatic footage shows the ship’s bow and stern protruding sharply above the shallow seabed while the central part lies submerged.

All crew members were rescued safely despite the dramatic accident. No official explanation has been released, but rumors suggest a collision with another merchant ship days earlier may have caused cumulative damage leading to the failure. Experts have not ruled out more sinister scenarios such as a heavy torpedo attack or a "Quicksink" explosive device detonated beneath the hull to split the ship. Although U.S. forces have conducted strikes near Bandar Abbas recently, no direct military incident involving Luni has been reported.

The possibility that the ship simply broke apart due to its advanced age and poor condition while anchored in calm waters is considered highly unlikely. The wreckage remains a silent hazard in one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes, underscoring the ongoing risks in the Strait of Hormuz maritime corridor.