Shipping crews face growing risks amid US-Iran conflict

On Sunday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that three “rogue oil tankers traveling an unauthorized route” within the strait experienced “explosions and severe fires.” The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has documented the deaths of at least 25 seafarers since the conflict began on February 28. India, a major supplier of merchant sailors, has suffered a disproportionate number of casualties.

“It is unacceptable that throughout this conflict seafarers have been placed in harm’s way,” stated the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). An ICS spokesperson emphasized, “It is incumbent on all parties to take all necessary steps to safeguard the safety of seafarers who are simply going about their job and have found themselves, through no fault of their own, in a highly volatile situation.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway, previously handling roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption. Following the US-Israeli actions, Iran has effectively closed the strait, warning of potential targeting for unauthorized vessels. Washington, in response, has implemented a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Attacks have involved missiles, projectiles, and naval mines, resulting in damaged vessels, fires, and sinkings. The IMO has recorded at least 129 such incidents. Recent events include fires affecting five oil tankers and a tugboat in the strait, and an explosion north of Qatar on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Velos Sapphire, resulting in one crew member’s death. October proved particularly dangerous, with at least 31 vessels impacted.

The casualties are primarily civilian merchant sailors working on tankers and cargo ships. At least 16 Indian nationals have been killed. In June, three Indian sailors died in US strikes on commercial vessels near Oman, prompting a diplomatic response from New Delhi. A further Indian crew member died in Tuesday’s incident involving the MSV Al Jusufi off Oman, with thirteen others rescued. Twelve Indian nationals were among those injured when the Panamanian-flagged tanker On Peace was struck near Oman in October. Two Filipino crew members were killed in September when the Saudi tanker Sidr was hit. Iranian maritime workers have also been affected; in May, the head of Iran’s merchant marine union reported at least 44 Iranian seafarers killed and 29 injured since the war’s start.

The conflict has also impacted the mental health of seafarers, according to the ICS. Shipowners are providing mental health support and facilitating communication with families. Approximately 6,000 seafarers were stranded near the Strait of Hormuz in late August. An agreement between maritime unions and shipping companies allows seafarers to refuse assignments in danger zones, with provisions for repatriation and compensation.

International law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, guarantees the right of transit passage and innocent passage for foreign vessels. However, academic Abdul Khalique notes that enforcement of these protections remains a challenge, highlighting a gap between legal obligations and political will. He emphasized that “operational avoidance” is crucial for seafarers’ safety.