Three crew 'believed trapped' aboard Thai ship attacked in Gulf: firm

Tensions in the Persian Gulf reached a violent new peak as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed targeted strikes against two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Thai-registered bulk carrier Mayuree Naree and a second Liberia-flagged vessel were reportedly hit after what Iranian officials described as a failure to heed naval warnings. The attack has left the maritime community on high alert and sparked a desperate search for survivors.

The Mayuree Naree was transiting the strategic waterway after departing Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates when it was struck by two projectiles. According to a statement from the ship’s owner, Bangkok-based Precious Shipping, the impact ignited a fire and caused extensive damage to the vessel’s engine room. While the blaze has since been extinguished, the ship remains a scene of a localized humanitarian crisis.

Three Thai crew members are currently reported missing and are believed to be trapped within the damaged engine room. Khalid Hashim, Managing Director of Precious Shipping, confirmed via email that rescue teams have faced significant hurdles, stating that authorities have not yet been able to safely board the vessel to reach the trapped sailors. The company is reportedly exploring "different avenues" to gain access to the ship’s interior.

The Omani Navy successfully evacuated 20 of the ship’s sailors on Wednesday, all of whom are Thai nationals. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has since confirmed that the entire 23-member crew hailed from Thailand. In the wake of the rescue, the Ministry’s deputy spokesman, Panidol Patchimsawat, told reporters that the government has issued a formal protest against the "violence done to commercial ships" and remains committed to the mission of locating the missing three.

The geopolitical fallout has been immediate, with the Thai government ordering all its vessels to vacate the Strait of Hormuz to avoid further escalations. As the Revolutionary Guard continues to assert control over the chokepoint, the maritime industry is bracing for further disruptions in a region that handles a fifth of the world’s oil.