Thousands of seafarers, cruise passengers trapped in Gulf

LONDON

The Malta-flagged cruise ships Aroya Manara and MSC Euribia are anchored at the port of Dubai on March 4, 2026. AFP

Around 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise ship passengers are stuck in the Gulf because of the Middle East war, the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization told AFP on March 5.

The shipping regulator's secretary general Arsenio Dominguez said that the "IMO is ready to work with all stakeholders to help ensure the safety and well-being of the seafarers affected."

The maritime sector said it had designated the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Gulf as a "warlike operations area," granting seafarers additional protections as the Middle East war engulfs the crucial energy transit route.

Since war erupted, the IMO has recorded seven incidents involving ships in the region that have resulted in two deaths and another seven people wounded.

"Beyond the economic impact of these alarming attacks, it is a humanitarian issue. No attack on innocent seafarers is ever justified," Dominguez told AFP.

"I reiterate my call for all shipping companies to exercise maximum caution when operating in the affected region," he added.

Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude and considerable supplies of liquefied natural gas travel.

Several shipping groups, including Danish shipping giant Maersk, have suspended bookings in the Gulf.

Maritime employers and unions representing their workers said on March 5 their upgraded designation of the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Gulf from a "high risk area designation" three days ago "reflects the continuing and heightened threat to seafarers and vessels operating in the region."

"Hundreds of vessels are stranded in the Gulf following the halt of vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the scale of disruption and risk facing civilian crews in the region," said a joint statement from the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group, which represents maritime employers.

ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton told AFP that after 32 years involvement with the federation, "this is the worst" he has seen it, "because it's so unclear on the diplomatic level."

While seafarers can request to leave a ship and be repatriated, the reality is not so clear.

"You can't push a button and you immediately leave a vessel," said Cotton.

"If you've got a crew of 25, you probably need 16 to safely run the vessel."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on March 4 claimed "complete control" of the Strait, with reports of additional vessels coming under attack.

Energy intelligence firm Kpler said oil tanker transits through the Strait had dropped by 90 percent from last week.

Other regions are already classified as "Warlike Operations Area" by the maritime sector, such as parts of the Sea of Azov, the northern Black Sea, the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.