Thai Navy Rescues 25 After Alleged Ship Hijack

The Royal Thai Navy’s Second Naval Area Command rescued 25 foreign crew members after they were left adrift at sea for three days following the alleged hijacking of their vessel. The operation was launched on 25 February 2026 after authorities received a report from the vessel Thanadol 2 that around 10 people were spotted floating in a raft. The location was given as bearing 055, 75 nautical miles from the Songkhla bar light buoy.

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In response, HTMS Tayan Chon was deployed to support the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 2 (Thai MECC Region 2) in conducting a search and rescue mission. Upon arrival near an offshore drilling platform, naval personnel located and recovered a total of 25 foreign nationals. The group consisted of one Georgian, 11 Pakistanis and 13 Iranians.

Preliminary questioning established that all those rescued were crew members of the vessel MT OMRA (VLCC). They stated that the ship, a crude oil tanker, had been hijacked by armed perpetrators at bearing 035, approximately 24.4 nautical miles from Horsburgh Lighthouse in Singapore. During the incident, the crew managed to escape using a rubber dinghy and subsequently drifted at sea for three days before being found.

The crew reported spending the three-day period exposed to the elements while awaiting assistance. Naval forces transported all 25 individuals safely to the pier at Songkhla Naval Base under the Second Naval Area Command. From there, they were handed over to police authorities to proceed with investigations and related legal procedures.

No further operational details have been released regarding the circumstances of the hijack or the status of the vessel MT OMRA. Authorities have not confirmed whether the ship remains under the control of the perpetrators or if additional maritime security measures have been initiated in the area.

The incident occurred in waters along a major international shipping route near Singapore, an area known for heavy commercial traffic. While officials have not publicly detailed cross-border coordination, further inquiry is expected given the proximity to Singaporean waters.

Investigations will now focus on gathering formal statements from the rescued crew and clarifying the sequence of events leading to the hijack. Maritime and law enforcement agencies are expected to coordinate on any follow-up action as the case develops.

Pictures courtesy of NBT

Key Takeaways

• The Second Naval Area Command rescued 25 foreign crew members on 25 February 2026 after they drifted at sea for three days.

• The crew reported their vessel MT OMRA (VLCC) was hijacked by armed perpetrators near Horsburgh Lighthouse in the Republic of Singapore.

• All rescued individuals were taken to Songkhla Naval Base and handed over to police for further investigation.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now NBT 28 Feb 2026