A cargo ship from Thailand heading to India caught fire after it was attacked by two projectiles while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes in the world.
The ship, Mayuree Naree, was heading to Kandla Port in India when the attack happened on Wednesday, 11th March.
According to the ship's operator, Precious Shipping, the vessel was hit by "two projectiles of unknown origin," which led to a fire and caused serious damage to the engine room. Three crew members are missing and are believed to be trapped inside the damaged section of the ship.
The cargo ship had earlier departed from Khalifa Port before it came under attack several hours later while sailing through the busy waterway. The Royal Thai Navy released images showing thick smoke rising from the rear of the vessel. Officials said the ship had 23 Thai crew members on board.
The Authorities confirmed that the Royal Navy of Oman managed to rescue 20 crew members, who are now safely brought ashore in Oman. The rescue operations are still underway to save the three crew members who are still missing.
India has also responded to this attack. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the ship was bound for Kandla and expressed concern that commercial vessels are being targeted during the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The ministry said several innocent sailors, including Indian citizens, have lost their lives in earlier attacks and warned that such incidents threaten civilian lives and global trade.
Precious Shipping said it is working with authorities to rescue the missing crew members and arrange for the safe return of the rest of the crew to Thailand, while closely watching the security situation in high-risk shipping areas.