Crew Forced to Abandon Vessel

A Thai-flagged cargo ship was attacked shortly after passing through the Strait of Hormuz on 11 March 2026, forcing its entire crew to abandon the vessel during an emergency at sea.

The ship was sailing in the Arabian Sea after departing from the United Arab Emirates when it reportedly came under fire at about 11:30am.

According to early reports, the strike hit the rear section of the vessel, severely damaging the engine room and sparking a fire. The damage left the ship unable to operate.

As the blaze spread and the situation onboard worsened, the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship.

All 23 crew members were safely evacuated from the vessel.

Fire and Severe Damage Reported

The attack caused major destruction in the engine room located at the stern of the ship, triggering a fire that quickly spread through the affected area.

With the vessel disabled and flames continuing to burn, it became unsafe for crew members to remain onboard.

The emergency evacuation was carried out to ensure the safety of all personnel.

Authorities have not reported any fatalities or injuries among the crew.

Responsibility Still Unclear

Officials say it is still unclear who was responsible for the attack or what type of weapon was used.

Investigators have begun examining the incident, including the vessel’s route and possible security threats in the region.

No group or country has claimed responsibility so far.

Strategic Shipping Route

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically important maritime corridors in the world, connecting oil and gas producers in the Gulf region to international markets.

A large share of global energy shipments and commercial trade passes through the narrow waterway each day.

Because of its economic significance, any attack on vessels operating in the surrounding waters is closely monitored by international maritime authorities.

Investigation Underway

Regional maritime safety agencies have been notified and are coordinating support for the evacuated crew.

Authorities are also working to assess the condition of the damaged vessel and determine whether it can be salvaged.

Investigators are expected to examine whether the attack may be linked to broader tensions affecting shipping routes in the region.

Further updates are expected once officials complete their initial assessments and gather additional information about the incident.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 11.03 2026

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Yep, a typical Thai driver running a red light or pedestrian crossing!

Som Nom Nah

Time for Thailand to call in the Iranian ambassador for a talk?

11 minutes ago, JackGats said:

Time for Thailand to call in the Iranian ambassador for a talk?

Yeah!,, that's not going to happen.

Some of you people have no idea of the ramifications re running the gauntlet through this straight right now. The vessel has no insurance, mines have been layed, there are still active missile and drone boats active. The idiot captain had no intention of protecting boat and crew. Just like the idiots that run red lights!

Jeez! What the hell were they thinking? Did they have cleared passage from Iran? Looks like a low impact. Was it a mine, torpedo or low drone attack? Will be very interesting if we ever hear the truth. At least they were able to abandon ship safely. All Thai crew I suppose (or cheap "neighbouring country" cannon fodder labour?). Lots of questions.

Looks blown out, not from outside, maybe from the fire but yeah here are the types of mines to look forward too.

So Iran now is now attacking countries which are not involved nor taken sides in this conflict. I wonder what their justification will be...

UPDATE

3 Now Reported Missing After Cargo Ship Blast

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has ordered urgent monitoring of the situation after a Thai-flagged cargo ship was damaged by an explosion while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on 11 March 2026. Authorities are searching for three missing crew members believed to have been working in the engine room at the time of the incident.

The vessel, Mayuree Naree, a 19,891-gross-ton bulk carrier registered in Thailand, belongs to Precious Shipping Public Company Limited. According to the Marine Department, the explosion occurred at about 11:00am Thailand time near the stern while the ship was sailing after departing an anchorage off the United Arab Emirates.

A fire broke out in the engine room following the blast, forcing the captain to order the crew to abandon ship. The crew members evacuated using lifeboats and were rescued by naval forces from Oman.

Rescuers successfully brought 20 crew members ashore at the port city of Khasab, where they were reported safe. However, three crew members are still unaccounted for and are believed to have been inside the engine room during their watch shift when the explosion occurred.

Precious Shipping confirmed the rescue of 20 crew members and said the search for the remaining three was ongoing. Thailand’s Marine Department has since coordinated with several international and domestic agencies to support rescue operations.

Officials have dispatched representatives to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre in Singapore and contacted the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations to help liaise with naval forces in the region. The Royal Thai Navy has also been instructed to coordinate with military authorities in Bahrain for additional assistance.

Further coordination is underway with Thailand’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to support diplomatic and rescue efforts.

Speaking before a meeting of Thailand’s Middle East conflict monitoring centre, Phiphat said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakulhad already been briefed about the incident. He added that authorities have not yet confirmed whether the blast was caused by gunfire or a sea mine.

Phiphat noted that the ship had been anchored near the UAE before being instructed by port authorities to move about 20 kilometres offshore shortly before the explosion. He said intelligence information was still unclear about the incident and that military forces patrolling the area had assisted with the rescue.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapasconfirmed that the rescue of the Thai crew was the government’s immediate priority. He said the full details of the incident would be presented after the official briefing scheduled for 12 March.

Authorities will continue searching for the three missing crew members while monitoring security risks for Thai vessels operating in the region. The government is also expected to assess whether additional safety measures are needed for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 11.03 2026

I'm not sure that they'll feel under any compulsion to give a justification but in any event, this is just them doing what they promised to do, about two weeks ago.

Iran claims Hormuz Strait is closed, threatens to set shipping there ‘ablaze’

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps senior official said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, threatening that if any vessels pass through it, Iran “will set those ships ablaze”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-claims-hormuz-strait-is-closed-threatens-to-set-shipping-there-ablaze/

16 minutes ago, simon43 said:

So Iran now is now attacking countries which are not involved nor taken sides in this conflict. I wonder what their justification will be...

But who actually owned the ship?

56 minutes ago, bdenner said:

Some of you people have no idea of the ramifications re running the gauntlet through this straight right now. The vessel has no insurance, mines have been layed, there are still active missile and drone boats active. The idiot captain had no intention of protecting boat and crew. Just like the idiots that run red lights!

Of course the idiot captain will never tell who gave him the go ahead. It's was a real brain dead decision at the moment they a

2 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

But who actually owned the ship?

I think that they call it flag of convenience

Just now, NONG CHOK said:

Of course the idiot captain will never tell who gave him the go ahead. It's was a real brain dead decision at the moment they a

I think that they call it flag of convenience

A tax dodge.

22 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

A tax dodge.

Think there is a lot of brain dead posters here you need to READ the post !! it will tell you who the owners of the vessel are also who gave the captain instruction to shift anchor

30 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

Of course the idiot captain will never tell who gave him the go ahead. It's was a real brain dead decision at the moment they a

I think that they call it flag of convenience

incorrect a flag of convenience is where a ship is registered in a country different from that of its owner, the owner is a Thai company precious shipping therefore NOT a flag of convenience

I see some posters are calling the captain an idiot.

Yet he was apparently told to move some 20km by the port authorities.

15 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Think there is a lot of brain dead posters here you need to READ the post !! it will tell you who the owners of the vessel are also who gave the captain instruction to shift anchor

CP group own the vessel but who was it chartered to. But it is not an oil carrier so maybe in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

7 minutes ago, bannork said:

I see some posters are calling the captain an idiot.

Yet he was apparently told to move some 20km by the port authorities.

Brain dead posters not being able to read !!!

3 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

CP group own the vessel but who was it chartered to. But it is not an oil carrier so maybe in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

The charter has nothing to do with it, the crew were Thai as well, there are a lot of vessels oil tankers cargo vessels go around there nothing new been like that for lots of years

3 hours ago, bdenner said:

Yep, a typical Thai driver running a red light or pedestrian crossing!

Som Nom Nah

What are you on about? It will be much better that the rest of the world, including Thailand, stands behind Trump in this matter. This is a disgraceful country, with ayatollah´s running th e circus, and with people totally disrespecting their women. Time to force them to align with the rest of the world.

37 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

CP group own the vessel but who was it chartered to. But it is not an oil carrier so maybe in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

Not the CP group. The GP Group (G. Premjee). Ethnic Indian Thais.

2 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Jeez! What the hell were they thinking? Did they have cleared passage from Iran? Looks like a low impact. Was it a mine, torpedo or low drone attack? Will be very interesting if we ever hear the truth. At least they were able to abandon ship safely. All Thai crew I suppose (or cheap "neighbouring country" cannon fodder labour?). Lots of questions.

Probably a USV as carried out this attack:

https://www.twz.com/news-features/iranian-kamikaze-drone-boat-makes-first-successful-strike-of-war

Looks more like an internal explosion.

27 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Looks more like an internal explosion.

How could you know anything about the damage from those photos?

What is your expertise in maritime loss adjudication claims or is it lust another of your unfounded posts!

5 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

How could you know anything about the damage from those photos?

What is your expertise in maritime loss adjudication claims or is it lust another of your unfounded posts!

Physics, the metal is bent outwards.

3 minutes ago, TedG said:

Physics, the metal is bent outwards.

Probably caused by an internal explosion after the initial strike elsewhere in the ship etc!!!!

PS; Have you ever investigated ship loses or commanded a ship?

6 minutes ago, TedG said:

Physics, the metal is bent outwards.

Unless the missile entered the opposite side ? Then you have the internal explosion and the metal pushed out the pictured side 😄

1 minute ago, CharlieH said:

Unless the missile entered thd opposite side ? Then you have the internal explosion and ghe metal out the pictured side 😄

This is true.

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

What are you on about? It will be much better that the rest of the world, including Thailand, stands behind Trump in this matter. This is a disgraceful country, with ayatollah´s running th e circus, and with people totally disrespecting their women. Time to force them to align with the rest of the world.

I can't tell if this is sarcasm.

There is a problem with countries run by egotistical lunatics having nuclear weapons. Russia, Israel, North Korea, USA. When is Trump going to deal with them?

18 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Probably caused by an internal explosion after the initial strike elsewhere in the ship etc!!!!

PS; Have you ever investigated ship loses or commanded a ship?

Could be, so you are arguing about "ifs". Do you deny that the picture shows the result of an in ternal explosion?