Three merchant ships hit as Iran blocks strategic oil transit route
Iranian military forces launched coordinated strikes against three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted oil storage facilities at Oman’s Port of Salalah on Wednesday, March 11.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, the Japanese container ship One Majesty, and the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth were the primary targets of the offshore aggression.
The most severe damage occurred 11 nautical miles off the Omani coast, where an unidentified projectile struck the Mayuree Naree. The impact ignited a major fire, forcing the crew to abandon ship.
While the Omani Navy rescued 20 sailors, the Thai Ministry of Transport reported that three crew members remain unaccounted for. They were reportedly in the engine room at the moment of the explosion.
Further north, the One Majesty was intercepted near Ras Al Khaimah, and the Star Gwyneth was targeted 50 miles off the coast of Dubai. Both vessels sustained minor structural damage, and no injuries or fuel leaks were reported.
Simultaneously, a wave of suicide drones struck fuel reservoirs at the Port of Salalah. The Oman News Agency (ONA) stated that while several drones were intercepted, others successfully hit their targets, causing significant fires at the storage terminals.
Maritime security firm Ambrey reported two distinct smoke plumes rising from the facility. Port operations have been temporarily suspended as emergency teams battle the blazes. No casualties were reported from the land-based strike.
This surge in violence follows the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) recent warning that all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz would be subject to attack. This strategic chokepoint handles approximately 20% of global oil and gas supplies.
Since the escalation began on February 28, the UKMTO has logged 14 maritime incidents in the region, 10 of which were direct kinetic attacks. Tehran has declared the strait closed to the United States, Israel, and their allies.
The Iranian government has threatened to halt all regional oil exports if military operations by Western forces continue. The blockade has effectively paralyzed one of the world's most vital energy corridors.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
