A Thai cargo vessel travelling toward India caught fire after a projectile strike in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, forcing its crew to abandon the ship as rescue teams rushed to the area. The incident occurred amid rising tensions in the Gulf region linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The vessel involved was the Mayuree Naree, making this maritime incident widely reported as the Mayuree Naree attack.
The 178-metre bulk carrier had departed Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was heading toward Kandla port in Gujarat when the strike occurred in the narrow and strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Authorities said the projectile hit the ship’s hull, triggering a fire and heavy smoke that quickly spread across parts of the vessel during the Mayuree Naree attack.
Images released by the Royal Thai Navy showed flames and smoke rising from the ship’s structure while life rafts floated nearby. Crew members evacuated the vessel shortly after the impact as the blaze intensified. The Mayuree Naree attack has raised fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping routes through one of the world’s busiest oil transit corridors.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed responsibility for striking two vessels in the region. According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, the IRGC said the Liberian-flagged ship Express Rome and the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree were targeted after allegedly ignoring warnings from Iranian naval forces. This statement linked the incident directly to the Mayuree Naree attack reported earlier by maritime authorities.
Rescue operations began quickly after the strike. The Omani navy launched an emergency mission to assist the stranded sailors. Officials confirmed that 20 crew members were rescued from the sea after abandoning the burning vessel. However, search operations continued for three sailors who remained missing following the Mayuree Naree attack.
The fire onboard the ship was eventually brought under control, though authorities have not yet confirmed the full extent of the damage. Investigators from maritime agencies are now examining the incident to determine the exact nature of the projectile and the sequence of events that led to the Mayuree Naree attack.
The Strait of Hormuz carries nearly a fifth of the world’s oil shipments, making any disruption in the region significant for global trade and energy markets. Recent military tensions have already increased security alerts for vessels travelling through the corridor.
FAQs
Q: What is the Mayuree Naree attack?
A: The Mayuree Naree attack refers to a projectile strike on a Thai cargo ship travelling through the Strait of Hormuz while heading to India, which caused a fire and forced the crew to abandon the vessel.
Q: Where did the Mayuree Naree attack happen?
A: The Mayuree Naree attack occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but crucial shipping corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with global trade routes.
Q: Were the crew members rescued after the Mayuree Naree attack?
A: Yes. The Omani navy rescued 20 crew members after they abandoned the burning ship, while search efforts continued for three missing sailors.
Q: Why is the Strait of Hormuz important for global trade?
A: The route carries a large portion of the world’s oil shipments, so incidents like the Mayuree Naree attack can affect shipping security and global energy markets.
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