Seafarers’ advocates welcome US-Iran deal after months-long limbo in Gulf | Shipping News
20,000 Seafarers Stranded as Strait of Hormuz Closure Nears Resolution
By Erin Hale
Published June 15, 2026
Seafarers’ advocates are expressing cautious optimism as a potential agreement to end the conflict involving Iran could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has left approximately 20,000 crew members stranded for months.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the strait will reopen on Friday, contingent on Iran lifting its “toll booth” system, while the U.S. will discontinue its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Thomas Kazakos, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), stated that the development brings relief to maritime workers who have been “caught in the middle of this war.” He emphasized that ensuring the safe departure of these individuals must be a priority, even though the process may take time.
Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, commended the agreement, noting that it could provide a pathway home for thousands of stranded Indian sailors.
The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced plans to facilitate the evacuation of seafarers trapped in the area since the U.S. and Israel initiated military operations against Iran on February 28. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez indicated that evacuations would be carefully managed to guarantee safety and security.
Currently, about 500 ships are waiting to transit through the strait, according to the ICS. The ongoing conflict has resulted in 46 documented attacks on international shipping, leading to the deaths of at least 14 seafarers, based on IMO data. Furthermore, Iran has laid sea mines in the strait, which have not yet been fully cleared.
Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, noted that the sense of safety among seafarers will take time to establish, regardless of any agreements reached. “From a seafarer perspective, a ceasefire and talk of ‘reopening’ is encouraging, but the concern remains around risk and trust,” he said. He added that the concept of “opening” the waterway involves careful judgments by shipowners, charterers, insurers, and crews regarding the safety of voyages.
Jones emphasized that building trust will require tangible evidence of peace, clear threat reductions, reliable communication, and a record of uneventful transits in the region.
