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Thousands of seafarers remain stranded on ships and tankers in and around the closed Strait of Hormuz, with crews facing uncertainty, safety fears and shortages of basic supplies as the waterway remains shut amid the Iran-U.S. conflict.
Around 2,400 seafarers are stuck on more than 105 tankers in the closed strait, according to Intertanko, a trade association for tanker firms. The International Maritime Organization said nearly 20,000 people on about 2,000 vessels are currently trapped in the Persian Gulf.
Intertanko Managing Director Tim Wilkins said the closure has left seafarers stranded off the coast of Iran, creating a “huge amount of anxiety, stress, and fatigue on board.”
Wilkins said crews are managing basic supplies such as food and water, along with practical issues including garbage removal.
“Many are stuck on board with no certainty as to when they’ll be able to return home,” he said.
One seafarer, speaking anonymously to ABC News for safety reasons, said crews have been waiting to cross since Feb. 28, when the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began, and vessel owners effectively halted traffic through the strait.
“It’s been almost 50 days since the war started, and uncertainty is our biggest fear,” the seafarer said. “Not knowing if we are going to get out of this situation alive is our main concern—because it doesn’t matter where you are in the Gulf, there is no safe place here.”
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz cannot be reopened because of “blatant violations of the ceasefire” by the U.S. and Israel.
The strait is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, with about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually passing through it.
Despite a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the U.S., clashes have continued around waterways in the region. Iran claimed last week that it seized two cargo ships in the strait for “inspection,” while other vessels reported coming under attack as they were trying to navigate the waterway.
The U.S. has also intercepted multiple ships after imposing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on April 13.
The seafarer who spoke to ABC News said the narrow and enclosed nature of the strait has increased fears among crews.
“There are reports of sea mines—we don’t know if they’re real or not, but it doesn’t really matter,” the seafarer said. “Once the idea takes hold that mines might be there, no ship wants to pass.”
The seafarer also cited fears of drones, unmanned vehicles and ballistic missiles, saying no military could realistically protect all vessels in the area.
“I’ve seen missiles passing over our heads,” the seafarer said. “I’ve seen drones and planes fly by every day, and we never know their intentions. I’ve watched vessels get hit with my own eyes.”
Another seafarer told The Guardian that they had given notice and were not willing to sail through the strait.
“It’s about safety, it’s all about safety,” the seafarer said.
Joshua Hutchinson, chief commercial officer at maritime risk agency Ambrey, said vessel owners and operators are likely to feel vulnerable because of the gap between diplomatic communication and military actions.
He said the industry expects the strait to remain under Iranian control while the U.S. intensifies operations against Iranian vessels, adding that this would strain ceasefire and peace talks.
Hutchinson said the industry needs “clear communication” for vessels to safely leave the Persian Gulf and clear the backlog. He estimated it could take three weeks for all vessels to clear the strait.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation said it has received about 1,900 inquiries from seafarers across hundreds of vessels since the conflict began. Around 20% were requests for repatriation, while others involved concerns about fuel, food and water supplies.
The ITF said it has helped repatriate 450 seafarers from the region so far.
“Civilian seafarers have already lost their lives, and tens of thousands more trapped near the Strait of Hormuz are spending every waking moment consumed by anxiety about how—or whether—they will make it home,” ITF Maritime Operations Coordinator John Canias said.
The seafarer who spoke to ABC News said some crews are rationing food and water, while others are struggling with pay and crew changes.
“We feel trapped—ike we’re in a prison,” the seafarer said. “The only way out is through the Strait of Hormuz, and right now, that’s not possible.”
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