Thai cargo ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz

TNR Staff

3 months ago

Advertisements

THREE crew members remain trapped in a Thai cargo ship that was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz today (March 11) with Oman having rescued the other 20 from the seriously damaged commercial vessel, Naewna newspaper said.

Adm. Thadawut Thadpitakkul, Thai navy chief of staff, said the injuries of the 20 crew members are being assessed but there are no fatalities with the origin of the attack unknown.

The ship was attacked in Omani waters with a Thai navy officer in Bahrain contacting Omani authorities to help rescue the crew.

Rear Adm, Parach Rattanachaiyapan, the Thai navy spokesperson, said the Maritime Traffic Control Centre received an initial report at approximately 11 a.m. that Thai-flagged bulk carrier named “Mayuree Naree,” with a displacement of approximately 30,000 tons and owned by Precious Shipping Plc, was attacked while sailing in the Strait of Hormuz after departing from the port of Khalifa, United Arab Emirates, at 3 a.m. this morning.

Upon being alerted the Thai Navy Operations Centre immediately asked for assistance via international maritime security cooperation frameworks. The liaison officer stationed at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) was instructed to contact the Thai embassy in Muscat, Oman, immediately to request assistance.

So far the Omani Navy has rescued 20 crew members and is in the process of rescuing the remaining three. The 20 Thai crew members who have been rescued have been brought ashore at Khasab, Oman, for safety. The cause of the attack is still under investigation.

The Thai Navy, through its Operations Centre, is closely monitoring the situation and expediting coordination with relevant agencies both domestic and international to ensure the swift and safe rescue of all 23 Thai crew members.

CAPTION:

This and Front Page – Smoke pouring out of the Thai cargo ship Mayuree Naree after being attacked. Photos – Naewna