Photo: Leo Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0

New Delhi / Gulf Region, March 11, 2026:

A Thai-flagged cargo vessel sailing toward India caught fire after coming under attack near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to officials from the Royal Thai Navy.

| Written by Anshika Chauhan |

The ship, identified as Mayuree Naree, was reportedly targeted on Wednesday shortly after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates. Authorities confirmed that 20 sailors have been rescued, while three crew members remain missing.

Details of the Vessel and Voyage

The Mayuree Naree, a 178-metre bulk carrier with a displacement of approximately 30,000 tonnes, is owned by Thai shipping company Precious Shipping PCL.

According to the Royal Thai Navy:

The vessel had departed Khalifa Port. It was en route to Kandla Port. The attack occurred while the ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil and trade shipments.

Following the incident, the Royal Navy of Oman launched a rescue operation and successfully evacuated 20 crew members from the damaged vessel. Search efforts for the three missing sailors are still underway.

Officials said the exact circumstances and method of attack remain under investigation.

Iran Claims Responsibility

Reports indicate that Iran has claimed responsibility for the strike, although full details have not yet been independently verified.

The incident occurred amid escalating tensions across the Middle East following recent military exchanges between Iran and Israel.

Escalating Regional Crisis

The attack comes during a rapidly worsening regional conflict. On February 28, Israel, supported by United States military forces, launched strikes targeting Iranian positions.

In response, Iran carried out retaliatory attacks on Tel Aviv and on countries in the region hosting American military bases.

Iranian authorities have also repeatedly threatened commercial shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a significant portion of the world’s oil and energy shipments.

Reports of Multiple Ship Attacks

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that three commercial vessels were attacked in the Gulf region on Tuesday.

However, it is not yet clear whether the Mayuree Naree was one of the ships referenced in that advisory.