BANGKOK — A Thai labour court has agreed to consider a damages claim brought by three surviving crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, in a case that could test employers' responsibilities toward seafarers operating in conflict zones.
The three former crew members of the Thai-flagged cargo vessel Mayuree Naree filed a petition seeking at least 1 million baht (about $30,000) each from shipowner Precious Shipping, arguing the company exposed them to foreseeable danger by sending the vessel through a high-risk maritime corridor during the regional conflict earlier this year.
The Mayuree Naree was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, 2026, during fighting linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The strike caused a fire aboard the vessel. Twenty crew members were rescued by the Omani navy, while three crew members later died after initially being reported missing.
According to the court filing, the plaintiffs have since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and say they remain unable to resume work at sea. They contend that compensation provided by the company—reported to include two months' wages and reimbursement for lost personal belongings—falls short of international standards and does not adequately address the physical and psychological consequences of the attack.
Precious Shipping has rejected allegations of negligence, saying it fulfilled all contractual and legal obligations and continued to support affected crew members following the incident, according to court documents and company statements cited in the case.
The attack on the Mayuree Naree became one of the most serious incidents involving Thai merchant shipping during heightened tensions in the Gulf. Thailand's government sought explanations from Iran after the attack, while Iranian Revolutionary Guards acknowledged firing on commercial vessels during the confrontation, according to previous official statements and Reuters reporting.
Thailand's Ministry of Labour said after the incident that compensation and legal benefits for affected seafarers and the families of those killed would be coordinated under the country's Maritime Labour Act. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also worked with regional authorities and the shipowner during search, recovery and repatriation efforts.
The labour court has accepted the petition for consideration but has not yet issued a ruling on liability or damages. No timetable for a judgment has been announced.
