Ship crews face strain as the Strait of Hormuz remains shut
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Indian Captain Rahul Dhar and his crew have been stranded on their tanker in the Persian Gulf for about eight weeks amid ongoing Iran-U.S. conflict, facing drone and missile attacks and a closed Strait of Hormuz.
- Approximately 20,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels remain stuck in the Gulf, with drastically reduced ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas transport.
- Many crews face shortages of food, water, and reliable communication, leading to deteriorating morale and increased anxiety among sailors and their families.
- Shipping companies and unions report difficulties in crew changes due to safety concerns, with some seafarers refusing to board vessels in the conflict zone, exacerbating a pre-existing global shortage of skilled maritime labor.
- The International Maritime Organization and others have called for a safe corridor in the strait, but ongoing attacks, mine threats, and geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt maritime operations and pose risks to global trade.
