Omani Navy rescues 20 Thai sailors from stricken bulk carrier in Strait of Hormuz

The Omani Navy has rescued 20 Thai crew members from the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree after the vessel sustained significant damage in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Three crew members remain aboard the stricken ship as rescue operations continue.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) confirmed that the Thai-registered vessel, owned by Bangkok-based Precious Shipping Public Company Limited, was targeted shortly after departing Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates. The ship was carrying 23 Thai nationals when it was struck near the stern.

Iran claimed responsibility for the attack, with its spokesperson stating that the ship's crew had ignored warnings before the vessel was hit.

The Mayuree Naree was one of three cargo vessels struck by what maritime authorities described as "unknown projectiles" in the strait on Wednesday.

According to BBC reporting, there have now been 13 suspected Iranian attacks on vessels operating in the Gulf since the war began.

Rescue operations and diplomatic coordination

Panidone Pachimsawat, acting director-general of the Department of Information and deputy spokesperson for the MFA, confirmed that the Royal Thai Embassy in Muscat coordinated swiftly with the Omani government once news of the attack emerged.

As of Wednesday evening, the 20 rescued sailors had been safely transported to the port of Khasab in northern Oman. The three remaining crew members stayed aboard to assist with the vessel's initial stabilisation, and efforts to extract them were ongoing.

"The Embassy has established contact with the 20 rescued sailors and confirmed they are in safe hands," Panidone stated. "Our primary focus remains the swift and safe recovery of the final three crew members and providing full support to all involved."

The Marine Department and the Royal Thai Navy are working alongside international maritime agencies to verify the precise nature of the attack and assess the extent of damage to the vessel.

According The Nation, The Royal Thai Embassy faces considerable logistical difficulties in reaching the sailors now sheltering in Khasab. The region is currently designated a no-fly zone, requiring a six-hour overland journey from Muscat that necessitates transit through the United Arab Emirates.

Two other vessels struck in the strait

The Mayuree Naree was not the only ship targeted on Wednesday. According to BBC reporting, a Japanese-flagged container ship was struck 25 nautical miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, sustaining minor damage. A third cargo vessel was hit approximately 50 nautical miles north-west of Dubai, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Iran has made its intentions in the strait explicit. Tehran has declared it would "not allow even a single litre of oil" heading for the United States, Israel and their partners to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

An Iranian military spokesperson affirmed on Wednesday that the waterway was "undoubtedly" under Iran's control. The strait serves as a conduit for approximately one fifth of the world's oil supply, and shipping traffic has fallen sharply since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict.

Pressure on global energy markets

The attacks have intensified pressure on an already strained global energy market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced on Wednesday that 32 member nations had voted unanimously to release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves to offset what IEA executive director Fatih Birol described as the "effective closure" of the shipping channel.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed that President Donald Trump had authorised the release of 172 million barrels from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve beginning the following week.

Oil prices nonetheless rose nearly 5% on Wednesday and extended gains in Asian trade on Thursday. Iran's military command warned: "Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilised."

Speaking outside the White House, Trump said the United States was "not finished yet" in Iran, adding that oil prices were "already coming back down."

Broader regional escalation

The maritime attacks formed part of a wider wave of Iranian military action on Wednesday. According to BBC reporting, Iran said it launched what it described as its "most devastating and heaviest operation," targeting US bases in Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.

Saudi Arabia reported intercepting seven ballistic missiles and two drones, the latter heading towards an oilfield. Fuel storage tanks at the port of Salalah in Oman were also struck by drones, though British maritime security firm Ambrey reported no damage to merchant vessels there.

The Israeli Defence Force launched fresh strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including command centres and weapons stores in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut. Lebanon's health ministry said seven people were killed and 23 injured following strikes on villages in the Bekaa Valley.

The G7 group of nations said in a statement they were working to "explore the possibility of escorting ships when the right security conditions are in place."

The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) said more than 1,100 children had been killed or injured since the conflict began, with the overall death toll standing at around 2,000.

The Thai government pledged to continue monitoring the situation closely and said further updates would be issued as the investigation into the attack on the Mayuree Naree progressed.