Three more vessels hit by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz, showing merchant ships remain in firing line
DUBAI, March 11 (Reuters) – Three more ships were hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security and risk companies said on Wednesday, bringing to at least 14 the number of ships hit in the region since the start of the Iran conflict.
Since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, shipping across the bottleneck has come to a near halt, blocking exports of nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply and sending global oil prices to highs not seen since 2022.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned that every ship passing through the Bosphorus would be targeted. US President Donald Trump threatened that the US would increase its attacks if Iran continues to block the strait.
Precious Shipping, the ship’s registered operator in Thailand, said in a statement that the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree dry cargo ship was hit by “two bullets of unknown origin” while passing through the Bosphorus on Wednesday, causing a fire and damage to the engine room.
“Three crew members were reported missing and are believed to be trapped in the engine room,” Precious Shipping said.
“The company is working with the relevant authorities to rescue the three missing crew members.” the statement said, adding that the remaining 20 crew members were evacuated safely and disembarked in Oman.
In the images provided by the Thai navy, smoke was seen coming from the rear of the ship.
The Iranian Guard said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency that the ship “was opened fire by Iranian fighters”, marking the first direct engagement by the Guard who had previously fired missiles or drones.
The U.S. Navy has been rejecting the shipping industry’s almost daily requests for military escort in the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war against Iran, saying “the risk of attack remains too high for now,” sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Trump said the United States is ready to provide naval escorts when needed.
THERE IS SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE OTHER TWO SHIPS
The Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty suffered minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles (46 km) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security firms said early Wednesday.
A spokesman for Japanese owner Mitsui OSK Lines and Ocean Network Express (ONE), which leased the ship, said the ship was hit while anchored in the Gulf and an examination of the hull revealed minor damage above the waterline.
All crew members were safe, officials said, adding that the ship remained fully operational and seaworthy. The business owner said that the cause of the incident has not yet been determined and the investigation is ongoing.
A third ship, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile about 50 miles northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said.
Maritime risk management company Vanguard stated that the bullet damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, adding that the ship’s crew was safe. The ship’s owner, Star Bulk Carriers, said the ship was hit in the hold while it was anchored. There were no injuries to the crew and no listings.
The Guard’s statement also made reference to another ship (usually a reference to drones) that was said to have been hit by shells on Wednesday morning. Reuters could not immediately confirm this report.
(Reporting by Jonathan Saul in London, Yannis Souliotis and Renee Maltezou in Athens, Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok and Kentaro Okasaka in Tokyo, Tala Ramazan, Nayera Abdallah in Dubai and Enes Tunagur in London; Editing by Louise Heavens and Philippa Fletcher)
