20 Thai Sailors Return Home After Ship Attack in Gulf

Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo vessel attacked in the strategic Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, while three of their colleagues remain stranded on the ship in the Gulf.

The Thai-registered vessel Mayuree Naree was struck by two projectiles on Wednesday while passing through the Gulf after departing from a port in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later said they had targeted the Thai vessel and a Liberia-flagged ship in the strait, claiming both had ignored warnings.

The 20 rescued sailors arrived at Thailand’s main international airport early Monday and were quickly escorted away by officials without addressing waiting journalists.

A woman identified as Bass, whose husband was among the returning crew members, said she had yet to reunite with him after the incident.

“We are all afraid, but they are employees if they refuse to go out to sea, they won’t get paid,” the 32-year-old said.

She added that she had not received any information from the shipping company about her husband’s movements or when he would return home.

Bass said she had only communicated with him through Facebook Messenger and had brought their one-year-old son to the airport at his request.

Journalists at the airport saw the returning sailors board a bus shortly after their arrival.

According to Bass, when the vessel was hit last week, her husband was only able to grab his phones before evacuating. He later apologised to her for leaving behind a small pillow that belonged to their son.

She urged the company to ensure the safety of its workers during the ongoing conflict.

“I want them to be sure the ship will be safe when it goes out during this war situation,” she said. “They should treat the employees like their own family.”

The vessel’s owner, Precious Shipping, said in a statement on Monday that it would provide welfare support for the crew, including medical checks and mental health assessments.

The company added that its highest priority was continuing efforts to locate the three crew members who remain missing.

Earlier, the firm said the three sailors were believed to be trapped in the engine room, which was damaged during the attack.

Thai officials said the country was seeking assistance from two other nations to help locate the missing crew members.

The Thai navy previously reported that the Omani navy rescued the 20 sailors on Wednesday.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Following strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran more than two weeks ago, Tehran has carried out retaliatory attacks against regional targets.

The situation has raised concerns over the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, heightening fears of disruption in global energy markets.