- Viral videos captured Iranian fishermen collecting boxed iPhones and luxury perfumes strewn all over the Arabian Sea
- The cargo was dumped onto the water after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, GFS Pride, sank in the Strait of Hormuz
- Details indicate that the vessel sustained damage and caught fire, but all 21 crew members were safely evacuated
Iranian fishermen found themselves chasing an unusual catch after hundreds of them reportedly collected iPhones, luxury perfumes and other goods floating in the sea following the sinking of a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Facebook
Videos circulating online show small boats moving between partially submerged shipping containers as men retrieve boxes believed to contain valuable consumer goods.
Fishermen collected iPhones and perfumes
In one clip, a man explains that they are heading out to collect iPhones and perfume after hearing that a container ship had sunk. Other footage shows a small boat struggling to tow a full-sized shipping container.
According to The Telegraph, hundreds of Iranian fishermen and salvage boat operators converged on the area after cargo from the vessel spilt into the water.
The scenes have attracted widespread attention, with many surprised by the sight of fishermen returning to sea for merchandise rather than their usual catch.
The unusual scenes followed the sinking of the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride in the Strait of Hormuz on October 14.
The vessel sustained damage and caught fire before sinking, leaving containers and cargo scattered across the water.
Its capacity was reported to be 2,824 standard container units, although the actual number of containers aboard at the time of the incident has not been independently established.
Footage shared online appears to show boxes of iPhones, French perfumes and other imported goods among the items floating near the wreckage.
However, the precise number of phones and perfume bottles recovered remains unclear, and not every video circulating online has been independently verified.
What happened to the ship's crew?
Despite the dramatic sinking, all 21 crew members aboard the GFS Pride were safely evacuated, according to Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the sinking remains disputed. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed that the vessel struck a naval mine after entering what it described as an unauthorised route.
Maritime security reporting, however, described the ship as having been struck by an unidentified projectile, with no independent evidence establishing that a mine caused the sinking.
The incident occurred amid escalating attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway for international trade and energy supplies.
Unusual scene amid maritime crisis
Iranian authorities also warned local fishermen to exercise caution around the floating containers, which could pose hazards to boats operating in the area.
The sight has added an unexpected dimension to an incident that underscores the growing risks facing commercial vessels in the region.
While the viral clips focused attention on the iPhones and perfumes, the circumstances surrounding the sinking remain serious, with damaged containers, drifting cargo and the possibility of further maritime incidents posing risks to those navigating the strait.
For the fishermen who ventured into the waters, the shipwreck presented an unusual opportunity to recover goods from the sea.
What remains uncertain is the full extent of the cargo recovered and how much of the merchandise shown in the viral footage can be conclusively linked to the GFS Pride.
Trump Mulls Renaming Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump recently suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself, claiming the strategically vital waterway is now under American control.
His remarks came after recent US strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian missile and drone attacks on American bases.
Trump's proposal added another dramatic twist to a war now in its seventh month.
Source: TUKO.co.ke