Strait of Hormuz Conflict Traps Thousands of Seafarers in Persian Gulf

Strait of Hormuz Conflict Traps Thousands of Seafarers in Persian Gulf

The maritime crisis began after a military campaign involving the United States, Israel, and Iran upended regional shipping. Data from Lloyd’s List indicates that nearly 150 non-sanctioned cargo-carrying vessels above 10,000 deadweight tonnage remain inside the Middle East Gulf, including roughly 80 tankers. While some ships managed to depart during a brief period when traffic flowed more freely, the collapse of a memorandum of understanding peace deal and the resumption of attacks have caused traffic through the strait to plummet.

The Human Toll and Safety Risks

For the mariners trapped on board, the situation has created severe psychological and physical challenges. International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that these individuals are innocent people trained to do regular work rather than combat, noting that their vessels are unprepared to defend against missiles and drones. Mohamed Arrachedi, a coordinator with the International Transport Workers’ Federation, described receiving frequent, desperate messages from mariners calling themselves forgotten hostages of the war.

Safety hazards were underscored by an incident in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Minoan Pioneer was struck by an unknown projectile about 20 nautical miles north of the Oman coast. The blast caused a fire in the accommodation area and an engine room blackout, and the crew later realized their third engineer was missing after disembarking. Across the broader conflict, estimates of seafarer casualties vary: Theguardian reports that 17 seafarers have died since hostilities began, while the International Transport Workers’ Federation estimates that 50 seafarers, including six Iranians, have been killed in missile strikes.

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Relief Efforts, Replacements, and Economic Pressures

Crews striving to leave the region have faced complex operational and contractual hurdles. Some operators have brought in replacement officers from locations such as Dubai to allow stranded personnel to return home. However, navigating the dangerous waters has strained labor relations. Turkish engineer Soner described how his crew submitted official petitions to leave their bulk carrier after discharging cargo in Saudi Arabia, prompting their operator to fly in new personnel. Meanwhile, mainstream Indian shipping company captain Volkan Gokcen recounted being asked to embark on a product tanker stuck in the Gulf after previous crew members spent months waiting to leave.

Concerns have also been raised regarding financial exploitation and welfare support. The International Transport Workers’ Federation reported an increase in cases of abandonment, where ship owners fail to pay wages for at least two months, with some mariners earning as little as US$200 a month. Additionally, the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network has experienced a 20-percent increase in calls and texts to its 24-hour emergency line since the conflict began. While most responsible vessel owners continue to supply fresh water, food, and other goods via small boats from the shore, the overarching blockade and stalled diplomatic talks mediated by Oman leave the wider maritime community searching for a lasting resolution to restore the freedom of navigation.