Three seafarers remain missing after a Precious Shipping bulk carrier was struck by two projectiles of unknown origin while she was transiting through the Strait of Hormuz at approximately 08:15 hours (local time) on March 11.
A specialist search team boarded the Thai-flagged vessel Mayuree Naree of the company’s Thai subsidiary, Precious Flowers Limited, after receiving the necessary permissions from the relevant local authorities to conduct a search operation in the areas where the three missing crew members were last believed to be located.
Precious Shipping Public Company Limited said the search was carried out under challenging conditions, including the presence of fire damage, residual smoke, and flooding in the engine room, and all accessible areas were examined to the extent possible.
“Despite these efforts, the company regrets to inform that the search team was unable to locate any of the three missing crew members. The families of the crew have been informed accordingly. The company will continue to liaise with the relevant parties and consider any further appropriate steps in relation to this matter,” the statement of Precious Shipping reads.
The 20 rescued Thai crew members arrived in Thailand earlier this month. The strikes reportedly damaged the vessel’s engine room and caused a fire.
Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs has provided an update on the three crew members still missing from the ship Mayuree Naree after the incident.
Deputy foreign ministry spokesperson Panidone Pachimsawat said on Monday (March 30) that the ministry was informed by Precious Shipping PLC, owner of the vessel Mayuree Naree, that the company hired a specialized search and rescue team to board the vessel, with authorization from local authorities, to conduct a search and rescue operation in the area where the three crew members had been located during the incident.
Pachimsawat said the search team has carried out a detailed inspection of accessible areas of the vessel to the extent permitted by conditions, as the vessel had sustained damage from fire with residual smoke inside and flooding in the engine room, making the search operation difficult.
The company reported that the search team had exerted its best efforts, but was not able to locate the three crew members on board. The company has already informed the families of the crew members of this development, he said.
The foreign ministry said it will continue efforts to locate the missing crew members and will remain in close coordination with the Iranian side and other relevant parties.
Pachimsawat also called on all parties concerned to return to dialogue and diplomacy at the earliest opportunity, in order to bring an end to the conflict in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter, while ensuring the safety of civilians and the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
