Strait of hormuz: Three commercial vessels, including a Thai-owned bulk carrier, were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, maritime agencies and officials said on Wednesday, amid escalating regional tensions.
According to Thai News Agency, the Thai vessel, Mayuree Naree, owned by a subsidiary of Bangkok-based Precious Shipping (PSL), was struck by unknown projectiles approximately 11 nautical miles north of the Omani coast. The attack at 04:35 UTC caused a severe engine room fire, forcing the evacuation of 20 crew members to Khasab, Oman. In a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Precious Shipping reported three crew members are currently missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room. The company noted the ship was unladen at the time and is covered by war risk insurance.
The incidents followed two other reported attacks in the strategic waterway. The Japanese-flagged ONE Majesty sustained a 10-centimeter hull breach 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, though all crew were reported safe. Additionally, the Star Gwyneth, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, reported minor damage 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai with no injuries or marine pollution recorded. Shipping data shows 17 attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman since Feb. 28, following the start of military operations by Israel and the United States against Iran.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn confirmed that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been briefed. Phiphat stated the Mayuree Naree had recently departed a UAE port before an explosion occurred near the engine room. "We are coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to determine if this was a missile strike or a sea mine," Phiphat said, noting that the vessel was in UAE waters at the time of the incident. The Royal Thai Navy has deployed its liaison officers at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to coordinate with the Omani Navy for rescue operations and investigation.
The Kasikorn Research Center reported that the conflict has driven the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) up 12% in one week. If instability persists, freight rates could surge 2-3 times above normal levels as vessels are forced to reroute, significantly increasing costs for Thai exporters and logistics providers.