Thai Cargo Ship Hit by Projectiles in Strait of Hormuz; 20 Rescued, 3 Missing

Twenty crew members have been rescued and three remain missing after a Thai cargo vessel, Mayuree Naree Bangkok, was struck by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, triggering an explosion and fire in the ship's engine compartment, Thailand's Transport Ministry confirmed.

The vessel had departed Dubai, UAE, and was en route to India when it was struck near Iranian waters. An explosion at the stern of the ship ignited a fire in the engine compartment — where the three missing crew members had been working at the time of the strike. The remaining crew abandoned the vessel in a lifeboat and were subsequently rescued by the Omani Navy. Search and rescue operations for the three missing sailors are ongoing.

Thailand's Transport Ministry said the cause of the attack and the origin of the projectiles remain unclear. Investigations are underway, and Omani naval authorities have not yet disclosed further details on the condition of the rescued crew or the current status of the stricken vessel.

The attack on the Mayuree Naree Bangkok is the latest in a series of incidents that have made the Strait of Hormuz — the world's most critical oil and gas shipping chokepoint — increasingly perilous for commercial navigation. In recent weeks, vessels transiting the narrow waterway have faced threats from missiles, drones, and other projectiles linked to the ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Several major international shipping firms have already begun rerouting vessels or implementing additional security protocols for Gulf transits, adding time and cost to global supply chains already under severe strain.