Shipping Desk:
The Royal Thai Navy has confirmed a dramatic development regarding the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, which was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the vessel being caught in a crossfire of regional conflict, authorities have verified that the three missing crew members trapped on board are still alive.
However, the rescue operation remains at a standstill as the ship continues to drift through an active “combat zone,” making immediate extraction nearly impossible.
Of the 23 Thai nationals originally on board, 20 were successfully rescued by the Omani Navy and are now in safe custody. The remaining three, all personnel from the engineering department, remain stranded.
“At this stage, it has been confirmed that all three are still alive,” said Admiral Thadawut Thatpitakkul, Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Navy. “The primary difficulty is the ongoing danger at sea. With intermittent weapons fire reported in the area, it is currently too hazardous for officials to board the vessel.”
A Vessel Adrift
Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan, the Navy spokesperson, briefed relatives today, explaining that the ship never had the chance to drop anchor after the strike. Under the influence of heavy currents and wind, the 30,000-tonne carrier is slowly drifting southeast toward the Persian Gulf.
Visual assessments reveal significant damage:
Hull Breaches: Structural tears have been spotted near the waterline on the port side.
Stern Damage: Smoke is still billowing from the stern, the area housing the main propulsion and engineering systems where the three crew members were stationed.
Buoyancy: Despite the damage, the ship remains stable and afloat, likely because it had already unloaded its cargo before the incident.
As the incident occurred in international waters between Bahrain and Oman—outside Thai legal jurisdiction—the Royal Thai Navy is relying heavily on international cooperation.
The Navy has dispatched liaison officers to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Bahrain and is coordinating closely with Thai embassies in Manama and Muscat. While the Omani Navy remains committed to assisting, the recent declaration of the Gulf as a closed combat zone by parties to the conflict has forced a pause in tactical operations.
Warnings Ignored?
The Navy revealed a timeline of warnings issued to Thai shipping operators:
February 24: Initial high-risk advisory issued.
March 2: Second warning following escalating tensions.
March 6: A face-to-face briefing was held with shipping companies, including the owners of the Mayuree Naree, to discuss emergency protocols.
Despite these warnings, the vessel proceeded into the Strait, where Iran later admitted to launching strikes against commercial shipping.
The Royal Thai Navy has assured the families that they are not standing idle. “We are using every means available, including direct communication between our Navy Chief and the Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman,” Rear Admiral Parach stated.
The focus now remains on a window of opportunity to board the drifting vessel as soon as the intensity of the conflict subsides.
