Crew members aboard the Thai cargo vessel Mayuree Naree were already anxious before entering the Strait of Hormuz, but proceeded with their journey despite ongoing conflict in the region.
One crew member, identified as Samut for security reasons, said the attack came without warning.
“I just heard a loud bang,” he said. “There were two loud bangs, back to back, maybe two seconds apart.”
After the explosions, smoke filled the vessel and a fire broke out in the engine room. Power was briefly lost before emergency systems activated.
The crew rushed to the bridge, where the captain conducted a headcount and discovered that three people were missing.
Among those unaccounted for was Chawarit Chaiwong, 35, a seafarer with more than 10 years of experience. His wife said he had expressed concern about the voyage, but ultimately went along with the rest of the crew.
According to reports, the vessel had been navigating a highly dangerous route amid escalating tensions in the region. The ship had previously been anchored near the United Arab Emirates, where crew members could hear exchanges of fire overhead and had even spotted what appeared to be a drone near the vessel in the days before the incident.
On March 10, the ship’s operators decided to proceed through the Strait of Hormuz to continue its voyage to India. The crew was instructed to follow strict safety procedures, including sailing with reduced lighting, maintaining regular communication, and identifying themselves clearly.
Despite these precautions, the vessel was struck while passing through the strait, causing damage to the stern and a fire in the engine room. The crew later abandoned ship and evacuated using lifeboats before being rescued by the Omani Navy.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the vessel was targeted after allegedly ignoring warnings while attempting to pass through the strait. Iran also reported that another foreign-flagged vessel was struck the same day.
More than 20 ships have reportedly experienced incidents in and around the Persian Gulf and nearby waterways since the conflict began, according to maritime monitoring sources.
While most of the crew have since returned safely to Thailand, three sailors remain missing. Authorities continue search and rescue efforts, though the vessel’s last known location signal was lost shortly after the attack.
Families of the missing crew members are still waiting for answers, expressing deep concern and uncertainty about their loved ones’ fate.
