▲ Ships floating in the Strait of Hormuz
As the war between the United States and Iran enters its sixth month, the suffering of seafarers trapped in the Strait of Hormuz is also prolonged.
Citing data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the British daily The Guardian reported on the 9th local time that 6,000 crew members aboard some 500 vessels remain unable to leave the Strait of Hormuz.
This is a result of Iran effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the war, which has restricted ship operations.
At one point, nearly 20,000 seafarers were isolated in the Strait of Hormuz area for weeks. Even after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war and some vessels managed to exit the strait, a significant number of them are reportedly still stranded.
Some entered the strait believing that maritime routes had opened following the MOU signing, only to face severe difficulties.
Lloyd's List, a British maritime trade publication, analyzed that 65 of the tankers currently isolated in the Strait of Hormuz are vessels that entered after the announcement of the MOU.
Most of the trapped seafarers are estimated to be nationals of India and the Philippines.
They are suffering from considerable psychological pressure as they remain exposed to the risks of successive vessel attacks.
According to The Guardian, 17 seafarers have been confirmed dead in the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the war, and reports of missing crew members and distress calls continue to pour in.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated, "Seafarers are not trained for combat; they are innocent people trained simply to carry out their duties," adding, "Nor are the ships prepared to defend themselves against missiles or drones."
Savio Rodrigues, general secretary of the Maritime Union of India, pointed out that the plight of seafarers isolated in the Strait of Hormuz is "like being in prison," noting that "geopolitical uncertainty is placing a massive amount of stress on the crew."
After the MOU agreement between the United States and Iran effectively broke down, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has still not recovered.
According to Lloyd's List, only 52 ships not linked to Iran passed through the strait during the one-week period from July 27 to August 2.
Even including 32 vessels linked to Iran, total traffic remained at just a little over 10 percent of pre-war levels.
While Iran is reportedly holding negotiations with Oman, a country adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, to reopen the strait, The Guardian noted that even if the strait reopens, vessels are likely to remain under Iranian control.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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