Iran's Revolutionary Guards Attack Thai-Flagged Ship in Strait of Hormuz; Three Sailors Missing

A Thai-flagged bulk carrier, the Mayuree Naree, was struck by projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, leaving three crew members missing and prompting rescue operations after a fire aboard the vessel.

Precious Shipping, the ship’s owner, said the attack damaged the engine room and trapped crew members, while the Omani navy rescued 20 of the 23 sailors and efforts to reach the remaining three continued.

Anadolu Agency

UKMTO and multiple maritime agencies reported the strike as one of three separate incidents in the strait that morning, with images from Thai officials showing thick black smoke rising from the ship.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the strike on the Thai vessel and said it targeted ships that allegedly ignored prior warnings, framing the operations as part of its control over passage in the strait.

Iranian statements and state-aligned reporting framed the attacks as enforcement actions, while Western and regional authorities treated the incidents as hostile strikes on civilian shipping, citing multiple UKMTO alerts about vessels struck by “unknown projectiles.”

Business Today

The IRGC also issued broader warnings, declaring that ships belonging to Western allies would “certainly be hit” and asserting a claimed “right to control the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

The Mayuree Naree suffered apparent hits above the waterline with explosions reported near the stern and in the engine room that ignited a fire, and ship-tracking and naval sources say the vessel was moving slowly after the incident.

“The ship had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates several hours before the incident”

Business Today

Precious Shipping’s managing director said responders could not yet board the vessel even after the blaze was extinguished, and Thai authorities confirmed all 23 crew were Thai nationals and have coordinated international search efforts.

Multiple outlets reported the Omani navy’s rescue of 20 sailors, while searches continued for the three believed trapped onboard; authorities and the shipowner said investigations were ongoing to determine the precise circumstances.

The strikes are part of a broader spike in attacks on maritime traffic in the Gulf that has disrupted shipping, stoked energy market volatility and prompted multinational maritime advisories.

Authorities and analysts noted this incident came amid a pattern of assaults since Feb. 28, with UKMTO and JMIC advisories documenting multiple vessels hit and international bodies reporting several casualties; the incidents have contributed to higher oil prices and rerouting of cargoes to alternative ports.

Independent Journal Review

Observers warned the closure or contested control of parts of the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint that handles a significant share of global seaborne oil flows — poses sustained risks to global energy supplies and shipping safety.

Governments and maritime organisations have condemned attacks on commercial shipping and opened investigations, while affected states coordinated rescue and diplomatic responses.

“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for at least one of three strikes on civilian ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday”

Independent Journal Review

Thailand lodged a protest and said it was working to locate the missing sailors and coordinate with regional partners, India’s ministry explicitly condemned targeting commercial vessels and urged avoidance of actions that endanger civilian crews.

Kurdistan 24

Regional naval forces including Oman’s conducted the evacuations and searches amid ongoing inquiries.