Thousands of sailors are stranded in the Gulf as Iran threatens vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, facing dangers and dwindling supplies.
Thousands of sailors remain stranded on ships in the Gulf as Iran threatens to fire on vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz, reports BBC News.
Mariners describe daily encounters with drones, missiles, and fighter jets. A Pakistani sailor mentioned that intercepted projectiles could fall on his vessel, while a Myanmar engineer reported skirmishes overhead with no safe hiding place on board.
Capt Anam Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association estimated that about 20,000 sailors are stranded at sea or in port. His group has tracked at least seven ships hit by projectiles, including the Palau-registered Skylark, where one sailor was killed on 1 March.
Families struggle to contact their crew members due to blocked communications in Iran. One father shared that he last spoke to his son during a missile attack at port and now fears for his safety. Sailors also report GPS interference, complicating navigation.
Supplies are running low. Crews are rationing food and water, with some ships down to one meal a day. Sailors say life has become humiliating, and fuel is scarce.
Industry officials warn that even if a ceasefire is reached, shipping operations may take days to resume. Mariners assert that they are innocent victims of the conflict and urge companies not to force crews through the strait, stressing that human lives cannot be replaced by insurance.
