A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has brought a "careful sense of hope" to thousands of seafarers stranded in the Arabian Gulf, but the conflict's end remains uncertain. Indian Captain Rahul Dhar and his crew have been stuck on their tanker for about eight weeks, witnessing drones and missile explosions while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.
Stranded Crews Face Strain and Danger
Captain Dhar reported that the crew's morale is holding as they maintain routines, but the strain is becoming evident. "Day to day, we try to keep things normal with open conversations and small team activities that help lift everyone's spirits," he said. The crew sighted drones and missile interceptions near the ship and along the horizon, creating real tension. "None of us expected the warlike situation," Dhar added, noting that reliable internet has been crucial for staying in touch with families.
Approximately 20,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels, including oil and gas tankers and cargo ships, are stranded in the Gulf, unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Normally, about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transits this waterway. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, only about 80 vessels passed through the strait in the week of April 13-19, compared to roughly 130 or more transits per day before the war.
Attacks and Blockades Persist
Since the war began, dozens of ships have come under attack, and the UN reports at least 10 seafarers killed. Although US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely last week, the US maintained its blockade of Iranian ports. In response, Iran fired on ships in the strait and seized two vessels. Captain ArunKumar Rajendran, also stranded with his tanker crew for around eight weeks, emphasized, "Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, yet we are often the most affected by regional geopolitical conflicts."
Manoj Kumar Yadav of the Forward Seamen's Union of India said thousands of Indian sailors are aboard stranded vessels near Iranian ports like Bandar Abbas and Khorramshahr, enduring days of fear and isolation. Explosions sometimes occur just a few hundred meters away. "They were watching blasts from their decks," he said, adding that his union receives daily distress calls from crews and families. Many sailors are first-timers, and Yadav noted the severe mental toll. India, a major supplier of maritime labor, has over 20,000 nationals on foreign-flagged ships in the region, many beyond coordinated evacuation efforts. India's shipping ministry reported at least 2,680 sailors evacuated since the conflict began.
Shortages and Communication Woes
Yadav reported acute shortages of food and drinking water on some vessels, forcing rationing. Internet disruptions and signal jamming make communication with families sporadic, and sailors often pay high roaming charges for just a few minutes of conversation. Families are increasingly anxious, demanding the safe return of their loved ones. Mohamed Arrachedi of the International Transport Workers' Federation said the organization has received hundreds of requests for assistance, including food supplies.
Reza Muhammad Saleh, an Indonesian chief officer aboard a Greek-owned cargo ship stranded off Oman for over a month, described a drone exploding near the port shortly after their arrival on March 3. At least two more incidents forced repeated evacuations to bunkers, though no one was harmed. "The biggest problem is the uncertainty. We don't know when Hormuz will be open again," Saleh said. The vessel, with 24 crew members from Indonesia, Arab countries, India, and Ethiopia, now requires written clearance from Iran to transit. Missile strikes and GPS disruptions have forced manual navigation. "Sometimes we think it's safe, then suddenly it's not. Today we're safe. Tomorrow, nobody knows," he added.
Limited Crew Changes and Industry Concerns
Fleet Management Limited communicates multiple times daily with dozens of stranded ships staffed by over 400 seafarers, CEO Captain Rajalingam Subramaniam said. Stock checks for food supplies are maintained, and pickups arranged to ensure availability. Some crew changes occur but in limited numbers. "Who wants to go on the ship? The inbound crew has the right to refuse and we respect that," Subramaniam said. Most stranded mariners have been in the Gulf since the war began, and he stressed that mariners who did not sign up for a war zone should not become unintended collateral.
Germany's largest shipping company, Hapag-Lloyd, has around 150 sailors stranded on six vessels near the strait. Spokesman Nils Haupt described these as "difficult days and weeks," with daily contact with captains and crews. Some crew rotations have been possible, but monotony sets in over time.
Global Seafarer Shortage Looms
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and others have called for a safe corridor for commercial vessels in the strait. Most ships still cannot pass, even though Iran claimed the strait was open to non-hostile vessels and demanded tolls. Iran is suspected of placing mines, and Trump said the US is clearing them and will "shoot and kill" boats laying mines. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated, "There is no safe transit anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz."
Past crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, have left many seafarers stranded. Subramaniam worries that after the Iran war, fewer people will be willing to sign up amid an existing shortage of skilled seafarers.
