A Cambodian cargo ship, which was heading towards the Gujarat coast, was attacked whilst it was travelling through the extremely important Strait of Hormuz. The ship in question, Mayuree Naree, was travelling to India when it was struck by (thrown) projectiles; this caused concern to the international community due to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the effect such an attack would likely have on maritime security.
Missiles Fired at the Ship
According to maritime authorities in the area, the Mayuree Naree was attacked by two projectiles while it was crossing through (passing through) the Strait of Hormuz. That attack resulted in a fire, primarily in the ship’s engineroom (engine room); therefore, the vessel had to comply with the emergency procedures required by the crew.
The Mayuree Naree had departed from the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirates) and was on its way to Kandla Port (Kandla) in Gujarat when it was attacked. According to ship (vessel) tracking, at the time of the attack, the vessel was located near (at the northern coastline of) the northern coast of Oman.
As of yet, no information has been released regarding the identity of the perpetrators of the attack, nor is there any information regarding (from) which direction the projectile was discharged (thrown).
Crew Members Rescued, Some Missing
The cargo ship had 23 crew members aboard, most of whom were from Thailand. After the assault, the Omani Navy initiated a search and rescue operation, ultimately rescuing approximately 20 sailors while three crew members were still unaccounted for. These three may still be trapped close to the engine room since they seemed to be on board at the time of this incident.
Images given to the media from the Royal Thai Navy show a great deal of black smoke coming from the cargo ship and the use of its life rafts deployed in the water. Various emergency services continue to search for the missing crew and to determine the extent of damage to the cargo ship from the initial attack.
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India Condemn the Attacking of Commercial Vessels
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the attack on the cargo vessel destined for an Indian port. The MEA released an official statement condemning commercial shipping being targeted in areas of regional conflict and has stated that the loss of innocent lives in such attacks is deplorable.
Additionally, MEA reiterated the need to protect the commercial routes of maritime traffic and that these routes are necessary for the continued transfer of global trade and energy.
Rising Tensions in the Region
Recently, the tension has elevated in the Middle East due to the conflict currently occurring between countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz (a narrow waterway where about 20% of the world’s oil and gas pass through). As geopolitical conflicts increase regionally, there have been increased security incidents involving merchant vessels in the region.
Reports indicate that three merchant vessels were fired upon by projectiles on the same day, which suggests a larger escalation of attacks on merchant vessels affecting international shipping routes.
Read also: Middle East Tensions Disrupt Air Travel: Dubai–India Flights Resume
Strategic Importance of the Strait
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Therefore, it serves as an important shipping route for global energy trade. Disruption to the Strait could negatively impact all international shipping, lead to increases in oil prices worldwide, and disrupt global supply chains.
In response to the most recent attack, maritime authorities and the shipping companies are monitoring the situation closely, and several vessels have reportedly changed their intended routes in an attempt to avoid potential threats in the region.
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