The Forgotten People of the Strait of Hormuz: Sailors Trapped in a War They Did Not Start

By Yiannis Damellos and Mars Strangelove Jr.

October 9, 2026

For the sailors aboard commercial ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict is not merely a debate over strategy, sanctions, or oil prices. It is a daily question of life or death: whether their vessel will be attacked, whether essential supplies will last, and when they will be able to return home.

The International Maritime Organization reported on August 28 that as many as 400 vessels carrying approximately 6,000 seafarers had been unable to leave the Persian Gulf safely. By that date, the IMO had verified more than 70 attacks on international shipping and at least 19 seafarer deaths since the conflict began on February 28.

The danger has not disappeared. Reuters reported on October 7 that at least 12 attacks, attempted attacks, or incidents of harassment involving tankers were recorded by maritime security sources around the Strait of Hormuz during the week from September 28 to October 5. India separately reported that 12 crew members were injured when an unidentified projectile struck the tanker *On Peace*. 

And the consequences are not limited to ships under attack. On October 9, the Associated Press reported that 19 Iranian oil tankers stranded off Sri Lanka were running low on food, water, and fuel. And no help is on the way.

Behind these numbers are people whose work requires them to remain at sea even when the route becomes dangerous. They must contend with uncertainty, limited supplies, separation from their families, and the possibility of injury or death. Higher wages and danger bonuses may compensate some crew members financially, but they cannot remove the risks or guarantee a safe passage. 

International maritime law and the work of the IMO recognize the importance of protecting seafarers and maintaining safe passage through international shipping lanes. The practical challenge is ensuring that those principles are upheld while the conflict continues. 

Politicians must be reminded that the sailors of Hormuz did not create this war; they did. Yet these sailors are among the people required to live with its immediate consequences. Their safety deserves attention not only when it's too late and a tanker is struck but also when a crew is stranded, supplies run low, or a family waits for news from a ship that cannot safely come home.

How many more civilian crews must face these conditions before safe navigation can be restored? And what practical steps can the countries involved take now to protect civilian seafarers, provide essential supplies, and bring the attacks to an end?

To understand how complicated the lives of the Hormuz sailors have become, consider Sri Lanka's dilemma as it has found itself caught between a humanitarian obligation and the potential economic consequences of helping Iran-linked vessels. 

On October 9, the Associated Press reported that 19 Iranian oil tankers stranded about 24 nautical miles off Sri Lanka were running short of food, fresh water, and fuel. Foreign Ministry spokesman Thushara Rodrigo said the government had no immediate plans to assist them, citing national interests and concerns about possible U.S. secondary sanctions. Colombo has denied receiving a direct warning from Washington, leaving an important distinction: no formal U.S. order has been established, but the risk of sanctions is part of Sri Lanka's calculations. 

The immediate question is whether a safe, practical arrangement can be made to deliver essential supplies to the crews without exposing Sri Lankan providers to unacceptable risks. Yet, for the sailors aboard those ships, the consequences are immediate: they need access to food, water, and medicine, and they should not have to wait for the geopolitical dispute to be resolved.