Trapped at sea: Seafarers plead for help amid escalating Gulf conflict

Seafarer support organisations say they are being flooded with distress calls from crews stranded in the Gulf region, as the ongoing Middle East conflict leaves thousands stuck in increasingly dangerous conditions.

According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), more than 1,000 messages have been received from seafarers since hostilities erupted on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Many of these messages paint a grim picture. Crews report shortages of food, drinking water, and medical supplies, with some describing urgent health concerns onboard. Others have shared videos of nearby explosions, pleading for evacuation as fears grow over their safety.

Roughly 20,000 seafarers are currently believed to be stranded across the Gulf, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz — a critical shipping route now caught in the conflict. At least eight maritime workers have reportedly lost their lives since the escalation began.

Support groups, including the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), have also reported a sharp rise in calls, with many sailors seeking clarity on their rights while working in a designated war zone.

Under rules set by the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), such areas entitle seafarers to protections like repatriation at the employer’s expense and higher wages. However, many workers — particularly those without formal labour agreements — say they are being denied these rights.

Some crews claim they are being forced to continue operations despite safety concerns, with ship operators refusing evacuation requests due to logistical or financial reasons. In several cases, seafarers reported being left with no option but to remain onboard in hazardous conditions.

Low wages are another major issue. Reports indicate some seafarers earn as little as $16 a day, with uncertainty over whether war-zone compensation rules are being applied.

With many cases still unresolved, helplines say they continue to receive desperate pleas for assistance — highlighting the human cost of a conflict that has extended far beyond the battlefield and into one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.