By Elsie Kamsiyochi

Thousands of sailors remain trapped aboard cargo ships and oil tankers in the Persian Gulf as Iran intensifies its effective closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, deepening a humanitarian crisis at sea and disrupting one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.

More than 20,000 sailors working on approximately 2,000 vessels are caught in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain situation, many stranded for months without a clear route home. The crisis has unfolded amid heightened regional conflict, with crews reporting dwindling food and water supplies, delayed wages, mounting fear, and the constant threat of missile or drone attacks.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical chokepoints in global trade and oil transportation, has been effectively blocked since late February after escalating conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel triggered instability across the region. For the thousands of commercial vessels trapped inside Gulf waters, what began as a geopolitical dispute has evolved into a prolonged ordeal marked by isolation, fear, and survival.

Life at Sea Turns Into a Nightmare

For many sailors aboard stranded ships, daily life has become a struggle simply to endure another day. Cut off from normal routines and often unable to dock or leave their vessels, crews are living in cramped conditions under intense heat while uncertainty grows around them.

Indian sailor Salman Siddiqui, speaking from a stranded ship, described the terrifying reality facing many mariners.

“The only thing we do here is plan how to spend the night and pray to God that we do not get hit during an attack.”

His words reflect the emotional strain endured by thousands of civilian workers trapped in what has effectively become a maritime conflict zone.

Many seafarers spend their days moving between tiny cabins, shared dining spaces, and scorching decks while anxiously monitoring developments in the war. Communication with family members is often limited to brief internet connections, leaving many loved ones unaware of their conditions or when they might return home.

Iran Tightens Control Over Hormuz

The situation worsened this week after Iran’s newly created maritime authority published a map reinforcing Tehran’s claim over a broad stretch of waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

The move signals that Iran may be preparing for a longer-term assertion of control over the strategic waterway, making it even harder for commercial ships to leave Gulf waters without permission.

According to reports, ship owners hoping to move vessels and valuable cargo out of the Gulf must now navigate a complicated system involving permissions, negotiations, and payments established by Iranian authorities. This process has left many shipping companies uncertain about how or when their ships can safely depart.

The Strait of Hormuz carries a major share of the world’s oil exports, meaning prolonged disruption threatens not only regional stability but also global energy markets and supply chains.

Fear, Isolation, and Delayed Pay

Aid organisations and maritime labour groups say the human cost of the crisis is becoming severe.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which represents sailors globally, says it has received more than 2,000 requests for assistance from stranded crew members since the conflict began. The organisation reports widespread concerns including unpaid wages, shortages of food and medicine, abandonment by ship owners, and mental distress caused by extended isolation.

Mohamed Arrachedi, an ITF coordinator responsible for the Arab world and Iran, described the situation as extreme, saying some sailors have contacted him in tears as fear and exhaustion overwhelm them.

In some of the worst cases, sailors reportedly have not received salaries—sometimes as little as $100 to $200 per month—for many months. Others claim employers are refusing to arrange travel home unless workers agree to forfeit unpaid wages.

Some crews are surviving on only one simple meal a day, often rice or lentils, while medical access and basic supplies remain inconsistent.

Witnessing War From the Water

Near the Saudi port city of Dammam, unusually high numbers of ships now sit anchored offshore, waiting for a resolution that may still be far away.

Journalists travelling aboard a resupply vessel this week witnessed sailors gathered along ship railings, waving enthusiastically—a rare moment of connection with the outside world after months of isolation.

Mohit Kohli, captain of a cargo vessel caught in Gulf waters after sailing from Singapore, said he initially struggled to believe the Strait of Hormuz could actually be shut down.

But within days, reality set in.

As conflict escalated, crews aboard ships began seeing and hearing Iranian missiles and drones crossing Gulf skies.

“The crew who was usually loud and happy were now silent,” Kohli recalled. “Meals got shorter. Conversations became more guarded.”

Though his vessel eventually managed to secure relief crew support, many sailors aboard other ships remain trapped without such help.

Regional Efforts to Help

Authorities in Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, have been working to reduce the suffering of stranded sailors.

Saudi port officials say they have helped hundreds of vessels receive food, fresh water, medicines, and fuel while also assisting more than 500 sailors in crew transfers to safer locations.

Officials say one of the most important forms of support is simply offering stranded crews reassurance that safe ports remain available.

For exhausted sailors stranded in uncertain waters, knowing there is still a shore willing to receive them has become a source of hope.

A Growing Humanitarian and Economic Crisis

As diplomatic efforts to ease tensions remain stalled, the situation in the Gulf continues to worsen. What was initially viewed as a temporary disruption has become an escalating humanitarian crisis involving thousands of civilian workers who play a crucial role in global trade.

Shipping experts warn that if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed for an extended period, supply chains, oil markets, and shipping costs could face severe consequences worldwide.

But for the sailors still trapped aboard ships in dangerous waters, the crisis is far more personal.

Far from home, separated from family, and living under the constant shadow of war, many are simply hoping for the chance to return safely to shore.

Source Reuters