The Thai registered bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The 30,000 DWT vessel, operated by Precious Shipping, caught fire in the engine room shortly after departing the United Arab Emirates.
Following the strike, the crew was forced to abandon the ship. The Omani Navy successfully rescued 20 crew members who had evacuated via lifeboat, bringing them safely ashore in Khasab. However, international rescue efforts are currently underway for three missing crew members who are believed to be trapped inside the damaged engine room.
The vessel was actively bound for the port of Kandla in Gujarat, India. In response to the attack, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a strong statement condemning the targeting of commercial shipping in West Asia. Officials emphasized that impeding the freedom of navigation and endangering civilian crews in this critical maritime corridor must be avoided.
Photographs released by the Thai Navy show thick smoke billowing from the rear section of the Mayuree Naree. The exact origin of the projectiles remains under investigation, but the incident marks a significant escalation for commercial operators navigating the strategic Strait of Hormuz.