Trapped for 6 Months, Feeling Like Being in Prison... String of Disappearance and Distress Reports

As the war between the United States and Iran enters its sixth month, the suffering of sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz continues to prolong.

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 ships are currently unable to leave the Strait of Hormuz.

This is because Iran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the war, restricting vessel operations.

At one point, as many as 20,000 crew members 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 ships managed to exit the strait, a significant number of them are reportedly still stranded.

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

Lloyd's List, a British maritime specialized media outlet, analyzed that among the oil tankers currently isolated in the Strait of Hormuz, 65 vessels entered after the announcement of the MOU.

Most of the isolated crew members are estimated to be nationals of India and the Philippines.

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

According to The Guardian, 17 crew members have been killed in the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the war, and reports of crew disappearances and distress are continuing.

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

Savio Rodrigues, General Secretary of the Maritime Union of India, pointed out that the plight of crew members isolated in the Strait of Hormuz is "like being in prison," noting that "geopolitical uncertainty is causing massive stress for the crew."

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 ships unrelated to Iran passed through the strait among vessels not linked to Iran.

Even including 32 ships linked to Iran, total traffic remained at just over 10 percent of pre-war levels.

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

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