Three ships struck in Hormuz amid escalating Iran war
Maritime incidents occur as Iran retaliates against Israeli and US strikes, disrupting vital oil shipping route
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Three commercial vessels were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, maritime security firms said, as the region remains volatile amid Israeli and United States war on Iran.
The incidents raise the number of ships damaged in the region since the conflict began on Feb. 28 to at least 14, according to shipping risk analysts monitoring traffic through the strategic waterway.
The Thai-flagged dry bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles of unknown origin while transiting the strait, its operator Precious Shipping said. The attack triggered a fire and caused damage to the vessel’s engine room.
Three crew members were reported missing and believed trapped in the engine compartment, the company said, while the remaining 20 crew members were safely evacuated and taken ashore in Oman.
Images released by Thailand’s navy showed thick smoke rising from the rear of the vessel after the strike.
Earlier in the day, the Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty sustained minor damage from a projectile about 25 nautical miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, maritime security companies said.
Its owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and charterer Ocean Network Express confirmed that the ship was struck while anchored in the Gulf, though all crew members remained safe and the vessel continued operating.
A third vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, was also hit by a projectile roughly 50 miles northwest of the UAE coast. Maritime risk firm Vanguard said the blast damaged the ship’s hull, but no injuries were reported among the crew.
Shipping traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz — a passage that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply — has slowed sharply since Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iranian targets late last month.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that vessels passing through the strait could be targeted as part of retaliatory measures against the attacks on Iranian territory.
The United States Navy has so far declined repeated requests from shipping companies for routine naval escorts through the waterway, citing the high security risks posed by the ongoing conflict.
Analysts say continued instability in the region could further disrupt global energy markets and push oil prices to levels not seen since 2022.
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