The Navy and the Maritime Security Command are urgently coordinating assistance for Thai crew members aboard the cargo ship Mayurinarin. They confirm that all three missing crew members are still alive, but rescue efforts remain concerning due to ongoing attacks in the area.
On 13 Mar 2026 GMT+7, at the Navy Headquarters, Admiral Thadawut Tatphitakkul, Chief of Naval Staff, spoke about the progress in the case of the cargo ship Mayurinarin, which has Thai crew and encountered danger in international waters between Bahrain and Oman—a conflict zone with ongoing armed activity from the Iranian side.
Out of the total 23 crew members, officials have already helped 20 reach a safe zone. The remaining three, all engine technicians, are still stranded on the ship. It has been initially confirmed that all three are still alive. However, the difficulty lies in the maritime situation where weapons continue to be fired intermittently, preventing officials from boarding the ship to extract them immediately.
Currently, the Navy has dispatched officers to coordinate with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and liaise with the embassies in Manama (Bahrain) and Muscat (Oman), as well as neighboring navies, to seek continuous rescue opportunities in line with the Navy Commander’s policy prioritizing the safety of Thai nationals.
Additionally, the Navy has identified that four Thai-flagged vessels, including the Mayurinarin, are operating in the high-risk area; the other ships have already docked safely. A warning has been issued to shipping operators to exercise maximum caution since this is a dangerous zone outside Thai legal jurisdiction but subject to international maritime regulations.
Meanwhile, the Marine Department has communicated with the shipowner to ensure shared responsibility and close coordination in rescue efforts. The Navy affirms it will continue monitoring and assisting Thai fishermen and crew in all respects, and although these are foreign vessels, the Navy is ready to promptly survey and provide care whenever Thai nationals are aboard.