The Harrowing Tale of Sailors Trapped in the Strait of Hormuz for Nearly 100 Days
The sea is sometimes so calm that Captain Hassan Khan forgets his ship has been trapped in the middle of a war zone for three months. “It is truly strange that everything looks normal on the outside, but the people inside are restless,” said the Pakistani sailor, who requested anonymity.
While the surface may appear calm, the reality is far more perilous. Khan and approximately 20,000 other seafarers have been trapped within and around the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran since late February. This region, once one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes responsible for transporting one-fifth of global oil and gas, has suddenly fallen silent as missiles traverse the skies and mines are laid beneath the sea.
Despite the danger, Khan’s crew has attempted to maintain regular work routines, though cheerful banter has been replaced by an anxious silence broken only by the occasional sound of a mobile phone. “Stress is always on our minds,” said Khan. “Everyone is physically and mentally exhausted.”
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), an estimated 1,600 ships are trapped in the Strait of Hormuz and unable to leave. Following the onset of hostilities, Iran closed the narrow waterway—the only exit from the Gulf—refusing passage to any vessel without Tehran’s approval. Captain Shafiqul Islam, another sailor, described the sensation as being “trapped in a pool.”
Attempts to navigate the strait have repeatedly failed. Following a ceasefire announcement on 8 April, Islam attempted to lead four other ships through the critical waterway after receiving permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), only to be warned to turn back. A subsequent attempt, following Iran’s claim that the strait would be “fully open” in line with a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, also failed after the US maintained a blockade on Iranian ports.
As ships move to alternative ports or anchor offshore in the Gulf for safety, supplies of food and water have become an urgent concern. While replenishment is possible near Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait, deliveries have become unpredictable. “We purchased about 180 tonnes of water for the ship two days ago. Previously, it cost between US$1,500 and US$2,000. Now, the cost has risen to US$11,000,” noted one sailor. Others have reported that suppliers are attempting to profiteer from the crisis.
The situation is set to worsen as summer approaches, with temperatures expected to reach 45°C. While some ships still have basic food, staples such as vegetables and lentils are becoming difficult to find. The human cost is also rising; the IMO has verified 39 incidents, resulting in at least 11 deaths and one person still missing.
As shipping companies face massive losses, the stability of the workforce is also at risk. While many companies initially offered higher wages and bonuses to retain staff, they are now reducing pay and allowances, leaving the future of crew rotations and maritime operations in the region highly uncertain.