A commercial cargo vessel heading to Gujarat came under attack near the Strait of Hormuz, triggering panic in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors. The assault set part of the ship on fire, forcing emergency rescue operations by the Omani Navy, which has already evacuated 20 crew members while three others remain trapped inside the vessel.
According to initial reports, the Thailand-flagged cargo ship “Mayuri Nari Bangkok” was on its way to Kandla Port in Gujarat when the attack occurred. The vessel caught fire following the strike, bringing it to a halt in the middle of the sea.
Maritime monitoring agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place around 11 nautical miles off the coast of Oman. The cargo ship was reportedly targeted in an aerial strike, although authorities have not yet confirmed who was responsible for the attack.
Once the fire broke out, the Omani Navy moved quickly to contain the blaze and launched rescue operations. Twenty crew members were successfully evacuated from the vessel. However, three people are still believed to be trapped inside the ship, and rescue teams are continuing their efforts to bring them out safely.
The ship is owned by Thailand-based Precious Shipping and was carrying cargo weighing nearly 30,000 tonnes at the time of the incident. It had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was scheduled to travel through the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea before reaching Gujarat. The exact nature of the cargo onboard has not yet been disclosed.
The attack comes amid rising tensions in the region. Since the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States and Israel in late February, Iran has effectively tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow but crucial global shipping route.
Iran has reportedly warned that vessels entering the strait could face attacks, leading many ships to remain anchored outside the passage due to safety concerns.
Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in India’s Shipping Ministry, said that 28 Indian vessels are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf region, carrying a total of 778 crew members. The government is coordinating with Indian embassies and local authorities to ensure the safety of seafarers.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, is one of the world’s most important energy corridors. A large share of global oil and gas shipments passes through the narrow waterway.
For India, the disruption carries serious implications. Nearly 40 percent of India’s crude oil imports and about 80 percent of its petroleum gas supplies originate from the West Asian region, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions if tensions escalate further.
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