Thousands of seafarers are trapped on tankers in the Gulf after the strait of Hormuz was effectively closed to shipping due to the escalating conflict involving Iran. The vital waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has seen marine traffic evaporate as military aggression increases and insurance costs soar.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade Strands Tankers and Crews
The Guardian spoke to a crew member on one of the stranded tankers, which typically ferries oil from the Middle East to ports worldwide. The seafarer recounted anticipating the situation, noting, “When [Donald] Trump said Iran had 10 days to agree to his deal or bad things would happen, I did the math and thought we might get stuck here. And we did.”
The crew witnessed explosions while loading crude oil at an industrial complex in the Gulf. Initially instructed to halt loading, they were later told to resume filling the tanker. “At the time we had no GPS, no communications, and we were sitting on more than a million barrels of floating oil,” the crew member said.
Currently anchored off the coast of Dubai, the crew feels indefinitely stuck. “We’re powerless; just waiting and hoping that nothing hits us,” they stated.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened to “set ablaze” any western tanker attempting to transit the strait. Approximately 200 tankers, not subject to sanctions, are stranded, along with hundreds of other vessels, trapping thousands of crew members in a potential war zone.
The seafarer has been on board for three months and was scheduled to return to Europe after loading. The tanker carries a crew of over 20, including nationals from the Philippines and India. They report sending regular updates to the tanker owner, receiving only automated responses regarding a mental health hotline.
Limited internet access is a concern. While a data allowance is provided, additional usage requires payment. “The internet isn’t always available because the GPS signal here gets jammed by the Iranians or the Americans. My mother is freaking out,” the seafarer added.
The blockade has already caused surges in oil and gas prices, threatening to destabilize the global economy. The longer the strait remains closed, the greater the risk to both the global economy and the seafarers stranded in the region.
At least six vessels have been attacked, resulting in two fatalities. A large explosion was reported on an oil tanker near the coast of Kuwait on Wednesday.
“People are trying to get on with their work, but it does take a toll,” the crew member said. “And as the days pass, it feels more and more unreal that we are just working normally in the middle of all this. We can hear the military planes, we can see explosions in the sky sometimes, it’s the strangest situation.” Crew members are attempting to maintain normalcy, with some exercising, watching movies, or fishing, while minimizing visibility.
Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), has received numerous inquiries from concerned seafarers. “Seafarers are sometimes invisible,” he said. “They are always on the frontline and our economies can’t survive [without them]. But let’s be clear: seafarers are innocent civilians. They happen to be on a ship in a region that is incredibly explosive at the moment.”
The ITF is exploring options for repatriation, but ship owners generally consider the region a “no-go zone.” The stranded tanker has approximately 60 days of food and desalination equipment, though rationing may become necessary.
David Appleton, a senior leader at Nautilus International, emphasized the psychological toll of prolonged uncertainty, comparing the situation to the pandemic when seafarers were similarly trapped on vessels. He stated, “It’s all obviously up in the air, because we have no idea how long this is going to go on. Our position ultimately is that seafarers shouldn’t be considered expendable. It’s a civilian career.”
The seafarer expressed concern for their future, stating, “Who would be willing to take my place? You’d need to be really desperate for work.” They added, “Honestly, when I do get home I want a very large, strong drink as soon as I arrive. But mostly I’m eager to see my pets, my family and my friends. There are hundreds of others in our position and I’m really concerned that we will not be heard, when there are so many more horrible things happening.” The crew member noted that seafarers have already died attempting to navigate the strait or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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