An extensive search has concluded without finding the three crew members reported missing from MV Mayuree Naree after the Thai‑flagged bulk carrier was struck in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, according to ship’s owner.
On 11 March, MV Mayuree Naree, owned and operated by Bangkok‑based Precious Shipping Pcl, was transiting north‑south through the Strait of Hormuz in ballast when it was struck by projectiles near the stern, igniting a fire in the engine room.
Following the attack, the vessel’s 23 crew abandoned ship. The Royal Navy of Oman rescued 20 seafarers from liferafts. Three crew members were reported unaccounted for and believed to be trapped in the engine room where the explosion and fire occurred.
A specialist search team later boarded the abandoned MV Mayuree Naree, which had drifted and run aground off Iran’s Qeshm Island after losing power. Despite inspecting accessible compartments under challenging conditions of fire damage, residual smoke, and flooding, no trace of the missing seafarers was found. Operator Precious Shipping notified the families and said it is liaising with relevant authorities on next steps.
The incident is one in a series of attacks on commercial vessels linked to the ongoing regional conflict that has effectively shut much of the strait’s normal traffic. International maritime stakeholders continue to express concern over crew safety, navigation risks, and disruption to global shipping routes through this pivotal waterway.
