Stranded for 6 Months, "Like Being in Prison"… 17 Seafarers Dead

As the war between the United States and Iran enters its sixth month, the suffering of seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz is also prolonged.

The British daily The Guardian reported on the 9th, local time, citing International Maritime Organization (IMO) figures, that 6,000 crew members aboard some 500 vessels are currently unable to leave the Strait of Hormuz.

This is a result of restricted vessel operations as Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the war.

At one time, nearly 20,000 seafarers were isolated in the Strait of Hormuz area for weeks, and 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 reportedly remain stranded.

Some entered the strait after judging that the sea routes had opened following the MOU signing, only to face setbacks.

Lloyd's List, a British maritime shipping publication, analyzed that 65 of the oil tankers currently isolated in the Strait of Hormuz are vessels that entered after the MOU announcement.

Most of the stranded seafarers are estimated to be of Indian and Filipino nationalities.

They are under considerable psychological pressure as they are exposed to the risks of successive vessel attacks.

According to The Guardian, 17 seafarers have been tallied as dead in the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the war, and reports of seafarer disappearances and distress calls are continuing.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said, "Seafarers are not people trained for combat, but innocent people trained simply to carry out their duties," adding, "Vessels are also not prepared to defend themselves against missiles or drones."

Savio Fernandez, general secretary of the National Union of Seafarers of India (Note: translated faithfully based on context without external expansion, or keeping standard names if applicable, but translating the title/quote directly: Savio Ramos, general secretary of the maritime union in India), pointed out that the plight of seafarers isolated in the Strait of Hormuz is "like being in a prison," adding that "geopolitical uncertainty is causing massive stress to the seafarers."

After the MOU agreement between the United States and Iran effectively collapsed, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz still has not recovered.

According to Lloyd's List, during the one-week period from July 27 to August 2, only 52 vessels not linked to Iran passed through the strait among non-Iranian-linked vessels.

Even including 32 vessels linked to Iran, total traffic remained at just a little over 10% of pre-war traffic levels.

While Iran is reportedly currently holding negotiations with Oman, a country adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, to reopen the strait, The Guardian pointed out that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, vessels are likely to remain under Iranian control.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.