Bodies of deceased crew members were discovered aboard the Thai cargo ship Mayuree Naree, which was attacked last month while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Thai authorities confirmed. The vessel was struck on 11 March 2026 while en route from Khalifa Port, UAE, to Kandla Port, India.
The attack, reportedly carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, damaged the engine room and caused a fire, forcing the crew to abandon the ship. Of the 23 Thai crew members onboard, 20 were rescued and returned home, while three remained missing, believed to have been trapped in the flooded and fire-damaged engine compartment.
The ship had remained afloat, and last week, Iranian TV reported it had drifted ashore near Qeshm Island.
Nearly a month after the attack, a specialized search and rescue team reboarded the vessel and conducted a detailed inspection of all accessible areas. During the operation, bodies of the deceased crew members were found, although authorities have not yet been able to confirm their identities due to the severity of the damage. Families of the missing crew have been notified.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed profound sadness over the discovery and is coordinating with Thai embassies, Iranian authorities, and forensic experts to verify the identities as quickly as possible. The ministry also reiterated calls for regional diplomacy to ensure the safety of civilians and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
