Around 20,000 sailors from various countries around the world have been stuck for several months in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf due to the escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran. This was reported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and seafarers’ trade unions.
According to IMO estimates, hundreds of merchant vessels are currently in the high-risk zone. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — the key artery of global oil trade — is severely restricted. Many crew members have been unable to leave the region for more than three months.
Seafarers complain of severe psychological stress, chronic fatigue, uncertainty, and fear of possible attacks. Crew rotations have almost completely stopped, resulting in prolonged separation from their families. Some vessels are also experiencing disruptions in food supplies and delays in salary payments.
“These people are on the brink. They are trapped in a combat zone, even though they are civilians,” said representatives of international maritime trade unions.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the situation in the strait remains too dangerous to carry out a large-scale evacuation of seafarers. Despite some diplomatic efforts to create a safe corridor, no progress has been made so far.
International organizations are urging the conflicting parties not to use civilian sailors as hostages in their geopolitical confrontation and to ensure the safe departure of people from the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20–25% of the world’s oil trade passes, remains one of the tensest areas in the world amid the ongoing military conflict.