Strait of Hormuz: The invisible workforce of war (has no) voice | La Repubblica

Sunday, May 31, 2026

EfSyn

Seafarers trapped at Strait of Hormuz face danger, fear, and lack of support amid global tensions.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Over three months, more than 20,000 seafarers and over 1,500 ships have been trapped at the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and gas passage. While negotiations with Iran continue amid fears of economic downturn, any resumption of normal traffic is expected to take weeks. Concerns remain regarding priority for departure and the risk posed by Iranian narcotics. Seafarers report fear and reluctance to speak out due to threats from shipping companies who warn them they will not be able to disembark if they leave. European industry bodies have called for rights such as the right to refuse sailing through the area without penalty, official recognition of the zone as a war zone, and repatriation by states and companies. Some seafarers claim they were forced to sign documents accepting personal responsibility in the conflict zone. An engineer recounted being trapped with constant danger from missiles and drones, noting that while some had supplies, others lacked basic necessities. Despite risks, many continue working for financial survival. Separately, there are concerns about four Romanian contractors detained by Iran. Furthermore, over 2,000 aid requests have been received by the ITF from seafarers in the Persian Gulf, covering issues like wages and repatriation.

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