Ship owner says no warning before Hormuz attack; navy cites earlier alerts
Precious Shipping Plc. (PSL), which owns the “Mayuree Naree” cargo ship that was attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, said it had not received any specific warning that the ill-fated freighter should avoid sailing through the strait.
In a statement issued today, PSL claimed that the Mayuree Naree had strictly complied with navigation instructions issued by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and recommendations on safe navigation in the high-risk area.
The company added that the ship had also been in regular communication with the RTN, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre and other maritime safety coordinators throughout its voyage through the strait.
The company also said it had decided to let the Mayuree Naree sail through the strait after conducting a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with maritime safety experts, insurance companies and relevant agencies.
The conclusion, it said, was that the ship could sail through the strait with additional precautionary measures in place and with the crew acknowledging the safety risks.
PSL noted that, at the time, there had been no specific warning that ships should avoid sailing through the strait.
The company also vowed to continue the search for the three missing crew members and to look after the welfare of the 20 who were rescued.
However on Thursday, Royal Thai Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaipan said the navy is conducting continuous assessments of the risks of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and is providing information updates and warnings to Thai-flagged ships to help them plan their voyages safely.
He also presented a timeline of the navy’s notifications issued to Thai-flagged ships operating in and near the strait between February 24 and March 10.
For instance, he said that on February 24 the first warning was issued to the Association of Thai Ship Owners and other shipping companies about rising tensions between the United States and Iran, advising them on maritime safety protocols.
A second warning was issued on March 2 stating that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Ship owners were advised to avoid sailing through the strait and were provided with basic guidance on navigation in high-risk areas.
On March 6, the navy held an urgent meeting with the private sector and Thai shipping companies to discuss guidelines for ships operating in high-risk areas and the issuance of a sailing instruction manual.
The formal sailing instruction manual, together with a QR code, was later issued by the navy for shipping companies to ensure their vessels strictly follow safety instructions.