Mayuree Naree Attack: Thai Bulk Carrier Hit in Strait of Hormuz

Three crew members remained missing on Thursday. Meanwhile, projectiles struck the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree in the Strait of Hormuz. On March 11 — one of the world’s most strategically vital and volatile shipping corridors. The Mayuree Naree attack in the Strait of Hormuz has raised serious concerns for global shipping security. Three crew members remain trapped after the Projectiles struck the vessel while transiting one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed it had targeted the vessel, along with a Liberia-flagged ship, after both allegedly ignored official warnings not to enter the strait.

What Happened During the Mayuree Naree Attack in the Strait of Hormuz??

The Mayuree Naree departed Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi. It was heading to Kandla Port in India when the attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Two projectiles struck the vessel, damaging its engine room and triggering a fire onboard. Crew members extinguished. The crew later extinguished the blaze. However, structural damage trapped three crew members in the engine room.

Meanwhile, the Omani Navy swiftly intervened and rescued 20 of the 23 sailors aboard. All crew members are Thai nationals, according to Thailand’s foreign ministry.

Rescue Efforts Ongoing — Three Still Unaccounted For

As of Thursday, March 12, the three missing crew members had not yet been reached. Precious Shipping’s managing director, Khalid Hashim, told AFP that efforts to board the stricken vessel were still being frustrated. he open up on Mayuree Naree attack.

“We still have not been able to get anyone to board our ship, even though the fire has been extinguished,” Hashim said. “We are trying different avenues to get onboard.”

The company confirmed in an earlier statement that The company reported that three sailors remained trapped in the engine room.

Thai naval and foreign ministry officials said they were in close contact with authorities in the region and monitoring the situation.

Iran’s Justification for the Strike

The IRGC stated that both vessels had disregarded formal warnings before entering the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has in recent years periodically asserted navigational authority over the strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil. Therefore, the attack raised concerns for global shipping.

Mayuree Naree attack marks one of the more direct uses of force against a civilian commercial vessel flying the flag of a nation not directly involved in Middle Eastern conflicts — raising fresh concerns about freedom of navigation in the region.
Reuters reports, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have increased in recent months.

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Who Owns the Mayuree Naree?

Precious Shipping (PSL) operates the vessel as part of its Naree fleet — a Thai dry bulk shipping company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. All ships in the fleet carry names ending in “Naree,” a defining identity of the brand.

PSL falls under the umbrella of the GP Group, The prominent Shah family of Thailand controls the diversified multinational conglomerate, whose roots stretch back more than 157 years.

From Indian Rice Traders to Bangkok’s Business Elite

The Shah family’s story begins in 1860, when an ancestor named Khetsee Khinsi Harbham left a small village in India to pursue opportunities in the rice trade in Mumbai. By 1868, he and his son had established Devjee Khetsee & Company, which eventually expanded operations to Yangon and later to Thailand — then known as Siam — in 1918.

After World War II, the family consolidated its base in Bangkok. In 1950, they formally adopted the surname Shah. A fourth-generation heir, Chimanlal Shivjee Shah, became so influential within Thailand’s Indian business community that he was widely referred to as the “Shah of Bangkok.”

A Business Empire Worth Nearly a Billion Dollars

The group’s modern transformation came under Kirit Shah, who steered GP Group away from traditional agricultural trading and into diversified investments during the 1970s and 80s — a strategy he described as “Pick and Believe.”

Today, the group’s key holdings include:

• Precious Shipping (PSL) — dry bulk shipping, established in the 1980s
• Mega Lifesciences — a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical company considered the group’s most valuable asset
• Golden Lime — mining operations
• MJets — a private aviation company
• Eka — a technology start-up

In the 2025 Forbes Thailand Rich List, the Shah family was ranked 34th wealthiest in Thailand, with an estimated net worth of US$945 million.

Nishita Shah now helps lead the group, Kirit Shah’s eldest daughter, who has also gained public recognition as one of the investor “Sharks” on Shark Tank Thailand.

Global Shipping Concerns After the Mayuree Naree Attack

The attack on the Mayuree Naree adds fresh pressure to an already tense global shipping environment. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for energy and cargo flows between Asia and the Middle East.

Shipping analysts warn that such incidents may increase war-risk insurance premiums.
Higher premiums could affect ships passing through the Persian Gulf — increasing costs for global trade at a time when maritime security is already stretched thin.

Outlook

In Mayuree Naree attack case Thai authorities have pledged to pursue diplomatic and operational channels to secure the safe rescue of the three trapped crew members. The broader geopolitical fallout — including how Bangkok responds to Iran’s actions against a Thai-flagged vessel — is expected to unfold in the coming days.

The incident is a stark reminder that commercial shipping, regardless of flag or neutrality, remains vulnerable in one of the world’s most contested maritime zones.

Reporting based on statements from Precious Shipping, Thailand’s foreign ministry, the Thai Navy, and AFP.

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📰 Primary News Reports — The Attack