Merchant ships stranded in Persian Gulf for weeks, crews show increasing fatigue and stress
Hundreds of merchant ships and some 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf for nearly 8 weeks due to ongoing tensions between Iran and the U.S., raising humanitarian concerns. The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz is causing mental and physical exhaustion among crews and negatively impacting global trade supply chains.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 17:20
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U.S.-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, New Delhi 27th comprehensive foreign report) As the prospect of the U.S.-Iran war remains unclear and the Strait of Hormuz is virtually closed, Indian captain Rahul Dhar and his crew have been trapped in the Persian Gulf for about 8 weeks. He stated that although the crew continues to work normally and morale is acceptable, they have started to feel fatigue and stress.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 21st an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, stating that it was at the request of Pakistan, which mediated the process, and emphasized that time must be given to Iran's "divided" leadership to propose solutions.
The Associated Press reported that this brought "a glimmer of cautious hope" to the crew, but the end of the war remains uncertain. Dhar said: "We try every day to keep everything running normally, boosting morale through frank communication and small team activities."
He told the Associated Press that the crew has repeatedly witnessed drone and missile interceptions around the ship and on the distant horizon. "Those moments were tough, making all the crew feel a real sense of tension."
Dhar pointed out, "None of us expected this war-like situation," emphasizing that they rely on reliable internet to stay in touch with their families. "Those calls and messages keep us grounded and give us strength."
Data shows that hundreds of ships, along with some 20,000 seafarers, are stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz; these include oil tankers, LNG carriers, and cargo ships.
According to maritime data company Lloyd's List Intelligence, about 80 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the week of April 13-19, compared to over 130 ships passing daily before the war broke out. Dozens of ships have been attacked since the war began, and the United Nations (UN) states that at least 10 seafarers have died.
Another captain, ArunKumar Rajendran, emphasized that "seafarers are the backbone of global trade, but often the most vulnerable to regional geopolitical conflicts." His oil tanker has also been stranded in the Persian Gulf for about 8 weeks.
Manoj Kumar Yadav of the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) said that thousands of Indian seafarers are stranded on ships, enduring fear and isolation day after day. These ships are anchored near Bandar Abbas and Khorramshahr ports in Iran, sometimes with explosions occurring hundreds of meters away.
Yadav said, "Seafarers witnessed explosions on deck," adding that the union continues to receive calls for help from seafarers and their families daily. "Many are on their first voyage, and you can imagine their psychological state after experiencing these events."
Indonesian chief mate Reza Muhammad Saleh, whose Greek cargo ship was stranded off the coast of Oman for over a month, told the Associated Press, "The biggest problem is uncertainty. We don't know when the Strait of Hormuz will reopen."
The United Nations maritime agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other agencies have called for the establishment of a safe passage for merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Even though Iran announced the strait would be open to ships it deemed non-hostile, requiring a toll, most vessels still cannot pass.
Previous crises have left many seafarers stranded at sea for extended periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Houthi rebel attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea.
Industry insider Rajalingam Subramaniam worries that even if the Iran conflict ends, the number of professional seafarers willing to work in shipping may decrease in the future, exacerbating labor shortages. (Compiler: Hung Kai-yuan) 1150427
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, New Delhi 27th comprehensive foreign report) As the prospect of the U.S.-Iran war remains unclear and the Strait of Hormuz is virtually closed, Indian captain Rahul Dhar and his crew have been trapped in the Persian Gulf for about 8 weeks. He stated that although the crew continues to work normally and morale is acceptable, they have started to feel fatigue and stress.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 21st an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, stating that it was at the request of Pakistan, which mediated the process, and emphasized that time must be given to Iran's "divided" leadership to propose solutions.
The Associated Press reported that this brought "a glimmer of cautious hope" to the crew, but the end of the war remains uncertain. Dhar said: "We try every day to keep everything running normally, boosting morale through frank communication and small team activities."
He told the Associated Press that the crew has repeatedly witnessed drone and missile interceptions around the ship and on the distant horizon. "Those moments were tough, making all the crew feel a real sense of tension."
Dhar pointed out, "None of us expected this war-like situation," emphasizing that they rely on reliable internet to stay in touch with their families. "Those calls and messages keep us grounded and give us strength."
Data shows that hundreds of ships, along with some 20,000 seafarers, are stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz; these include oil tankers, LNG carriers, and cargo ships.
According to maritime data company Lloyd's List Intelligence, about 80 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the week of April 13-19, compared to over 130 ships passing daily before the war broke out. Dozens of ships have been attacked since the war began, and the United Nations (UN) states that at least 10 seafarers have died.
Another captain, ArunKumar Rajendran, emphasized that "seafarers are the backbone of global trade, but often the most vulnerable to regional geopolitical conflicts." His oil tanker has also been stranded in the Persian Gulf for about 8 weeks.
Manoj Kumar Yadav of the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) said that thousands of Indian seafarers are stranded on ships, enduring fear and isolation day after day. These ships are anchored near Bandar Abbas and Khorramshahr ports in Iran, sometimes with explosions occurring hundreds of meters away.
Yadav said, "Seafarers witnessed explosions on deck," adding that the union continues to receive calls for help from seafarers and their families daily. "Many are on their first voyage, and you can imagine their psychological state after experiencing these events."
Indonesian chief mate Reza Muhammad Saleh, whose Greek cargo ship was stranded off the coast of Oman for over a month, told the Associated Press, "The biggest problem is uncertainty. We don't know when the Strait of Hormuz will reopen."
The United Nations maritime agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other agencies have called for the establishment of a safe passage for merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Even though Iran announced the strait would be open to ships it deemed non-hostile, requiring a toll, most vessels still cannot pass.
Previous crises have left many seafarers stranded at sea for extended periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Houthi rebel attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea.
Industry insider Rajalingam Subramaniam worries that even if the Iran conflict ends, the number of professional seafarers willing to work in shipping may decrease in the future, exacerbating labor shortages. (Compiler: Hung Kai-yuan) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
Text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.