Item 1 of 3 The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. ROYAL THAI NAVY\/Handout via REUTERS <\/p>\n
[1\/3]The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. ROYAL THAI NAVY\/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab<\/a>Thailand-flagged bulk carrier damaged off OmanMost crew evacuated, three feared missingJapan-flagged container ship and Greek-owned bulk carrier sustain minor damageDUBAI, March 11 (Reuters) – Three vessels have been hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime \u200bsecurity and risk firms said on Wednesday, bringing the number of ships struck in the region since \u200cthe Iran conflict<\/a> began to at least 14.Shipping along the narrow strait, opens new tab<\/a> has come to a near standstill since the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28, preventing exports of around a fifth of the world\u2019s oil supply and sending global oil prices surging to highs not seen \u200bsince 2022.<\/p>\n Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any ship passing through the Strait will be targeted. U.S. President Donald \u200bTrump has threatened to ramp up U.S. attacks on Iran if it continues to obstruct the \u2060strait.<\/p>\n The Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree dry bulk vessel had been struck by “two projectiles of unknown origin” while sailing through the Strait on \u200bWednesday, causing a fire and damaging the engine room, the ship’s Thai-listed operator Precious Shipping (PSL.BK), opens new tab<\/a> said in a statement.<\/p>\n “Three crew members \u200bare reported missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room,” Precious Shipping said.<\/p>\n “The company is working with the relevant authorities to rescue these three missing crew members,” it said, adding that the remaining 20 crew members had been safely evacuated and were ashore in Oman.<\/p>\n Images provided by \u200bthe Thai navy showed smoke pouring out of the back of the ship.<\/p>\n The U.S. Navy has refused near-daily requests from the \u200bshipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war on Iran, saying the risk of attacks is \u200ctoo high \u2060for now, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters<\/a>. Trump has said the U.S. is prepared to provide naval escorts whenever needed<\/a>.TWO OTHER SHIPS SUSTAIN MINOR DAMAGE<\/p>\n Earlier on Wednesday, the Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty sustained 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.<\/p>\n Its Japanese owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (9104.T), opens new tab<\/a> \u200band a spokesperson for Ocean Network \u200bExpress (ONE), its charterer, said \u2060that the vessel was struck while at anchor in the Gulf and inspection of the hull had revealed minor damage above the waterline.<\/p>\n All crew are safe, they said, adding that the vessel remains \u200bfully operational and seaworthy. The owner said the cause of the incident remained unclear and \u200bwas under investigation.<\/p>\n A \u2060third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said.<\/p>\n The projectile had damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company Vanguard said, adding that the vessel’s crew were \u2060safe. Owner \u200bStar Bulk Carriers said the ship was hit in the hold area whilst \u200banchored. There were no crew injuries and no listing.<\/p>\n Reporting by Jonathan Saul in London, Yannis Souliotis and Renee Maltezou in Athens, Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok and \u200bKentaro Okasaka in Tokyo, Tala Ramadan, Nayera Abdallah in Dubai and Enes Tunagur in London; Editing by Louise Heavens and Philippa Fletcher<\/p>\n Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n