Weapon used in attack on Thai ship near Hormuz still unknown - Transport minister

Thailand is still waiting for additional details of the attack on a Thai-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, including whether the damage was caused by sea mines or projectiles, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said today, adding that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been briefed about the incident.

The Marine Department said it received a report on today that the Thai-flagged bulk carrier ‘Mayuree Naree’, a 19,891-gross-ton vessel owned by Precious Shipping Public Co., Ltd., was hit, causing an explosion and fire, while sailing near the Strait of Hormuz at about 11am Thailand time.

According to the ship’s owners, the vessel, carrying 23 crew members, had sailed from a port in the United Arab Emirates shortly before an explosion occurred near the stern, starting a fire in the engine room.

The ship’s captain ordered the crew to abandon ship in lifeboats. They were later rescued by the navy of Oman.

Twenty crew members were brought safely ashore at the port city of Khasab, while three others, believed to have been on duty in the engine room at the time of the blast, remain unaccounted for.

At 1.46pm, Precious Shipping confirmed that 20 crew members had been rescued and taken ashore, while efforts to locate the remaining three were continuing.

The Marine Department said it is coordinating with both domestic and international agencies, including the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) in Singapore, as well as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, to seek assistance from forces operating in the area.

The department is also coordinating with the Royal Thai Navy, which has instructed its operations centre to liaise with military authorities in Bahrain to support rescue efforts.

A situation monitoring centre has also been set up to coordinate rescue operations.

Phiphat said initial reports indicated that the vessel had been anchored at a port in the United Arab Emirates and was instructed by port authorities to leave the anchorage.

Asked whether Thailand would introduce additional safety measures for Thai vessels in the region, Phiphat said the government will discuss the matter with the Foreign Ministry at a meeting of the government’s centre monitoring the Middle East conflict and will provide more details later.

He added that vessels operating in the waters of the United Arab Emirates should not normally be involved in the conflict, noting that the country maintains a neutral stance, but the situation remains sensitive and requires further assessment in consultation with the Foreign Ministry.