‘Ignored warnings,’ says IRGC
NEW DELHI: In a major escalation amid the ongoing US-Iran war, a Thailand-flagged cargo ship came under attack while sailing through the choked Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. The vessel Mayruree Naree, which the Bangkok-based Precious Shipping owns, was struck by Iran approximately 11 nautical miles off the coast of Oman, the Royal Thai Navy said in a statement.
In a statement carried by the IRNA news agency, the IRGC said that the Thai-flagged ship, along with the Israel-owned ‘Express Room’ were fired upon after they ignored the warnings.
“Express Room” owned by Israel and flying the Liberian flag, as well as the container ship “Mayuree Naree,” were fired upon and stopped by Iranian fighters after ignoring warnings and alerts from the IRGC Navy and illegally insisting on passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” the IRGC said.
There were 23 Thai crew members aboard the ship when it was attacked. The Royal Navy of Oman rescued 20 members, and efforts were underway to extract the remaining three. The Royal Thai Navy said that it received an initial report of the incident at approximately 11:00 am. The ship, according to the navy, was attacked hours after departing from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates.
“The Maritime Traffic Control Centre under the Navy Operations Centre received an initial report at about 11 am on March 11, 2026, that the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree had come under attack shortly after leaving Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates at 3 am,” Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyan, spokesman for the Royal Thai Navy, said, according to Thai media.
The 20 rescued crew members have been taken safely ashore in Khasab, Oman.
Admiral Thadawut Thatpitakkul, Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Navy, said the commercial vessel was fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, in waters off Oman. Thai naval personnel stationed in Bahrain swiftly coordinated with the Omani authorities to assist the crew.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a total of three commercial ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, with the Thai-registered ship catching fire.
Another vessel, the Japan-flagged ONE Majesty, also sustained damage after being struck 25 nautical miles off Ras Al Khaimah. Owned by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), the ship was proceeding to a safe anchorage with all crew members reporting safe.
The third vessel was struck 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, and fortunately, all the crew members escaped the attack unhurt.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, is choked amid the ongoing war between the United States and Iran. Tehran has warned that it will target any ship sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Amid the warning, the US Navy has begun escorting some ships.
Agencies