‘Like being in prison’: the ship crews stuck in Gulf since February

A cargo ship was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing damage and leaving one engineer missing, highlighting the dangers faced by seafarers. The US-led war on Iran has effectively blockaded the waterway, trapping thousands of seafarers for months and causing significant psychological distress. Efforts to resolve the situation through ceasefires and peace deals have broken down, leaving many vessels and crews stranded.

• A cargo ship, the Minoan Pioneer, was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in engine room blackout and a fire, with the third engineer missing.
• The US-led war on Iran has trapped an estimated 20,000 seafarers in the Gulf, with the waterway effectively blockaded.
• Seafarers are experiencing immense psychological stress, describing their situation as being ‘in prison’ with no clear end in sight.
• Previous peace attempts, including a ceasefire and a peace deal, have failed, leaving many ships and crews stranded.
• Approximately 6,000 seafarers on 500 vessels remain trapped in the Gulf.
• Hostilities have spread to other regions like the Red Sea and the Black Sea, making July one of the deadliest months for commercial seafarers.
• The IMO warns that a shortage of willing seafarers could impact global trade, as 90% of goods are transported by ship.