BANGKOK, THAILAND – A Thai-flagged cargo ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz continued to drift through an active combat zone while three crew members remained missing, according to the Royal Thai Navy.
Attack, drifting vessel and smoke
According to the Royal Thai Navy, the Mayuree Naree had not dropped anchor after the incident and drifted slowly toward the Persian Gulf with current and wind.
Recent information indicated that smoke was still visible from the vessel, with no clear movement or change in its overall position reported.
20 rescued, three still missing
The navy of Oman brought an initial group of 20 crew members ashore, and all those rescued were reported to be safe, although some had sustained minor injuries.
The Thai embassy was supporting entry and return procedures for the sailors, while assistance was still being requested to rescue the remaining three missing crew members.
Diplomacy instead of direct deployment
Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, told relatives that Thailand had begun coordination with regional armed forces and partners through liaison officers and embassies.
The navy chief had also sought direct contact with the commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, as Thailand said it placed the safety of Thai nationals
“above everything else.”
said Parach Rattanachaiyapan, navy spokesperson.
Why the rescue effort stalled
Thai officials pointed out that the area remained an active combat zone and that the conflict parties had announced a closure of the Gulf, meaning every operation required a fresh assessment of risk.
At the same time, the navy spokesperson stressed that Oman was not refusing assistance but was maintaining neutrality and required broader coordination before proceeding, which was why there had been no breakthrough so far.
Damage to the ship and fears for the missing
Images reviewed by the navy showed cracks near the waterline, damage to the port side and smoke at the stern behind the bridge, making the situation particularly critical.
According to the information available, the missing crew members had worked in the engine and technical sections, with workplaces typically located in the stern near the main propulsion systems.
Warnings to shipowners and questions of responsibility
The navy said it had issued several warnings and urged the shipping industry to avoid the Strait of Hormuz during this phase of “high risk”, because the area was dangerous and lay outside Thai jurisdiction.
In parallel, the Marine Department spoke with the shipowner, calling on the company to take responsibility and work closely with rescue authorities.
More vessels in the danger zone
The navy reported it had identified a total of four Thai-flagged vessels in the high-risk area, while other affected ships had already reached safe ports.
In addition, monitoring was being carried out in three categories – Thai-flagged ships, vessels registered in Thailand and Thai-owned ships, as well as foreign-flagged ships with Thai crew – and within this framework three other relevant vessels were identified in the Persian Gulf.
Limits of authority and international rules
Because the waters lay outside Thai territory, the navy said it could mainly assess, issue warnings and coordinate but could not issue on-site orders.
Decisions on routes and departures ultimately rested with the captain and the shipping company, even though navigation in the area was organized under international maritime law.