Human remains discovered on Thai cargo ship attacked in Hormuz

The Thai ministry of foreign affairs confirms search teams found human remains on the Mayuree Naree, attacked amidst middle east conflict.

Precious Shipping, owner of the cargo ship Mayuree Naree, announced to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 3/4 the discovery of human remains during a second search and rescue mission on board. The Mayuree Naree was attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 11/3, an incident that caused a fire, flooded the engine room, and forced the crew to abandon ship. The Oman Navy successfully rescued 20 crew members.

According to the mission's findings, the engine room suffered severe damage from the fire and was completely submerged. During the subsequent search operation, rescue teams discovered human remains within the damaged area.

The Mayuree Naree cargo ship emits black smoke after being attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. *Photo: Royal Thai Navy*

The company had previously reported that three missing crew members were believed to be trapped in the engine room. Due to the condition of the remains, Thai officials have not yet been able to verify the identities of the victims. Precious Shipping has informed the families of the three missing crew members about this development.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with Iranian officials and forensic experts to expedite the identification process.

The Mayuree Naree measures 178 m in length with a deadweight of over 30,000 tons. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the ship was attacked after "ignoring warnings and deliberately passing through the Strait of Hormuz illegally".

The hull of the Mayuree Naree was torn open after the attack. *Photo: Royal Thai Navy*

The 20 rescued crew members returned to Thailand by plane on 16/3.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic shipping lane, handling approximately 20% of global oil supply and playing a key role for Gulf economies. The conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has disrupted shipping activities in the strait, causing volatility in the global energy market and soaring oil prices.