A Thai-flagged cargo vessel was hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after departing from the United Arab Emirates ahead of the continued regional tensions on one of the world’s most important shipping straits. The attack led to the disappearance of three people and injuries to other members.
The ship, Mayuree Naree, a 30,000-ton bulk owned by Precious Shipping PCL, was sailing towards India when it was attacked. As said by Thai navy spokesman Paraj Ratanajaipan, the Omani navy rescued 20 crew members, who abandoned ship and evacuated in a lifeboat.
Following the attack, Iranian military authorities later acknowledged that the ship was attacked by fighters from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), making it a direct attack on a merchant vessel ever since the tensions have escalated since February 28.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said that if the attacks continue on Iran, they would not allow “one liter of oil” to be shipped from West Asia to the US, Israel, or any country associated with them as a partner. Efforts are underway to recover the remaining crew members from the vessel, and the attack is under investigation.
Precious Shipping, operating 41 vessels under Thai, Singaporean, and Panamanian flags, said it is working with authorities to repatriate the crew members evacuated to Oman back to Thailand.
The precious shipping said the attack would not have a material financial impact or directly disrupt the overall operations, as the Mayuree Naree was covered by war-risk insurance.
Meanwhile, the Thai National Shippers’ Council said that the incident could intensify the tensions in the region and disrupt shipping.
Earlier to this, the UK Navy said that three ships were attacked by the projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf. An Indian crew member was killed after the Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, came under attack near Basra on March 11, 2026.
According to a statement posted by the Embassy of India in Baghdad on X, the remaining 15 Indian crew members were safely evacuated and moved to a secure location. The embassy said it is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and the rescued sailors and is providing all necessary assistance. It also expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased crew member.
