Thai ship survivors sue operator over Hormuz attack and unfair dismissal

Bangkok,UPDATED: Jul 10, 2026 13:18 IST

Three former crew members of a Thai cargo ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz in March filed a lawsuit on Friday against the vessel's operator, alleging labour rights violations and unfair dismissal. The case was filed at the Central Labour Court in Bangkok against Precious Shipping Co., two affiliated companies and the ship's captain.

The ship, Mayuree Naree, was struck by a projectile north of Oman on March 11, killing three people. The remaining 20 crew members were rescued and returned to Thailand about a week later. According to the three former crew members, the company put their lives at risk by sailing through the strait despite security concerns.

Lawyer Kunpat Singhathong said former crew members Panithi Tumkaew, Noppadon Wongsuvan and Surades Manpuen were dismissed before the completion of their nine-month employment contracts after the attack left the ship inoperable. He said they were given compensation equal to two months' salary.

Kunpat said the compensation was not enough because the three men have since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and are unable to continue working as sailors for the foreseeable future. “We tried to negotiate with the company, but it denied responsibility, so we believe the matter should be brought to the court,” he said before filing the case. He did not disclose the exact amount being sought, but said it was more than one million baht, or about USD 30,000, for each person.

Panithi, who said he had worked for Precious Shipping for more than a decade, said his wife urged him to seek medical treatment after noticing a change in his behaviour. “When there are loud noises, I'll get startled,” he said. “I can't work now, and I have to take medication.” Precious Shipping did not respond to requests for comment.

The remains of the three crew members killed in the attack were repatriated to Thailand earlier this month. In a July 3 statement, Precious Shipping thanked those involved in the repatriation process and expressed condolences to the victims' families. The company said it “remains committed to providing full assistance, care, and support to bereaved families throughout this difficult time.”

The filing comes as tension remains high in the region. On Thursday, the United States launched new airstrikes against Iran, which responded by targeting American allies in the Middle East. The exchange of fire threatens an interim deal intended to help end the Iran war. The conflict has choked off the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for about a fifth of global trade in crude oil and liquefied natural gas, much of it bound for Asia, which has faced an energy shock since the war began on February 28.

The safety of stranded seafarers in the Persian Gulf has been a concern for Asian countries such as India, the Philippines and Thailand, whose citizens make up a large share of ship crews. “This is not simply a matter of shipping statistics,” Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the United Nations' Maritime Organisation, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Behind the figures are seafarers, and in some cases their families, who continue to bear the human cost of this conflict.” The lawsuit by the three former crew members brings that human cost into focus once again.

With PTI Inputs

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