Shortly after departing a United Arab Emirates port, a Thai-flagged cargo ship came under attack near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to Thailand’s Royal Navy. While 20 crew members have been rescued, three remain missing.
The bulk carrier, identified as the Mayuree Naree and owned by Thai firm Precious Shipping Pcl, was traveling from the UAE’s Khalifa Port to India’s Kandla Port when it was struck while navigating the strategic waterway. Tehran has asserted responsibility for the incident, according to NDTV.
Images issued by the Royal Thai Navy depicted dense black smoke emanating from the ship’s hull and upper structure, with life rafts spotted floating in the surrounding sea.
A statement from the Royal Thai Navy confirmed that “the specific details and cause of the attack are currently under investigation.” Iranian authorities have declared they were behind the strike.
The navy’s statement further indicated that Omani naval forces had successfully rescued 20 sailors, adding that “efforts are currently underway to rescue the remaining three crew members.”
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre had reported that three commercial vessels were targeted in the Gulf on Tuesday. It remains unclear if the Mayuree Naree was among those ships.
According to the Royal Thai Navy statement, the vessel measures 178 metres in length and has a displacement of 30,000 tonnes.
This incident occurs amid escalating tensions across the Middle East. On 28 February, Israel, with support from US military forces, initiated strikes against Iran. Tehran has responded by targeting Tel Aviv and various Middle Eastern nations hosting American military installations, while repeatedly threatening maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy artery.
