20 crew members rescued after 3 vessels attacked, including Thai cargo ship, near Strait of Hormuz
MAYUREE NAREE hit near its stern while sailing in waters near Oman, reports local media
- Another ship damaged, belongs to Japanese shipping company, reports media
ISTANBUL
Twenty crew members were reported to have been rescued while three are still on a Thai-flagged cargo ship after it was "fired upon" near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to local media, citing the Thai Navy.
The ship, MAYUREE NAREE, was hit near its stern while sailing in waters near Oman, according to the Thai Enquirer.
Thadawut Thatpitakkul, a Thai admiral, said that Thailand's naval personnel stationed in Bahrain coordinated with authorities in Oman to assist the ship’s 23 crew members.
Authorities confirmed that no deaths have been reported as they are checking for injuries.
Two other ships were also targeted in the strait.
One of them sustained damage from "a suspected but unknown projectile," according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). All crew members were reported safe.
The extent of the damage is currently unknown but under investigation by the crew, the advisory said.
The third vessel was struck by "an unknown projectile" 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, the UAE. UKMTO confirmed that the crew is safe. There were no reports of environmental damage.
After the reports, one of the ships was clarified as belonging to the Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, citing sources connected to the shipping company and the Transport Ministry.
A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official, cited by the broadcaster, said that "it is unlikely that the ship was attacked."
The crew discovered a hole in the rear of the ship after hearing a sound of an impact.
Earlier this month, another Japan-linked ship was damaged in the Gulf of Oman by an object that apparently fell from the sky.
Vessels transiting the area have been advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The Strait of Hormuz carries around 20 million barrels of oil daily. Its disruption has already pushed oil prices above since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began on Feb. 28.
The escalation in the Middle East has flared since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, to date killing more than 1,200 people, including Ali Khamenei, Iran's former supreme leader.
