Tens of Thousands of Sailors Stranded in the Persian Gulf as US and Iran Consider Peace Deal

An Indian sailor who asked to be identified only as Anish said he has been stuck at an Iranian port for nearly 10 weeks, since before US President Donald Trump launched "Operation Final Fury" on February 28. Anish arrived in the waters of the Shatt al-Arab on a cargo vessel and has been unable to leave since.

"We have faced the whole situation here, war, missiles. Our minds are terribly disturbed," Anish told Al Jazeera. He survives mainly on potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and flatbread but has heard that food and water on other ships are running out.

Some of Anish’s Indian colleagues have managed to return home via the Iran-Armenia border, but many remain because they have not been paid. "Some are stuck because Indian agents haven’t paid wages. Others because the Iranian agent says they won’t provide dollars to go to Armenia," Anish recounted.

An estimated 20,000 sailors are stranded after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks. Before the war, the strait was one of the world’s most vital shipping routes, carrying about a fifth of global oil supply and a third of seaborne fertilizer trade.

Though the US and Iran declared a ceasefire on April 7, attacks have persisted. US Central Command said it "intercepted" and "eliminated" threats from Iran after three US destroyers were struck. Iran said it retaliated after the US targeted an oil tanker in its territorial waters. Tehran also accused Washington of violating the ceasefire by airstrikes on civilian areas, including Qeshm Island.

Iran permits ships to pass through its territorial waters for a fee but continues to fire on commercial vessels. The US blockaded Iranian ports on April 13. Maritime intelligence firm Lloyd’s List reported at least four commercial ships have been hit since the start of the week, while a French container vessel reported an attack. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates at least 10 sailors have been killed, while the Iranian sailors’ union says 44 Iranians had died as of April 1.

President Trump said talks with Iran are "very good" and a peace deal is "very feasible," but it remains unclear how close the two sides are to an agreement. The US announced it would lead stranded ships out of the strait starting Monday but then paused within 48 hours to pursue negotiations.

Labor groups say the prospect of detention beyond being stranded at sea has created a "state of heightened fear." Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said military forces have boarded ships in a manner reminiscent of the 17th century since the start of the year. "It’s terrifying because they’re just sailors, just workers."

The IMO has called the situation an "unprecedented" humanitarian crisis. Working conditions vary by shipowner. Crew on vessels operated by major lines receive hazard pay, but those working for smaller companies struggle to get paid. Saman Rezaei, General Secretary of the Iranian Sailors’ Union, said many foreign sailors work through "irregular agents" that do not meet international standards.

Crew rotation has become a major pressure point. The Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 stipulates that sailors should not work more than 12 months aboard a ship, but repatriation is complex and costly. John Bradford, a former US Navy officer, noted that with ships unable to move and flights disrupted, many have no choice but to remain onboard beyond their expected rotation period.

Steven Jones, founder of the "Seafarer Happiness Index," said self-reported happiness scores among sailors have dropped about 5 percent during the war. One crew member said: "What scares me most is the thought of a drone or intercepted missile falling on us." Many have prepared evacuation plans: "I have told my crew how to run, where to jump from, and what to take if something happens."

Even if the strait reopens, trade flows will take time to normalize due to damaged infrastructure. Iran is believed to have scattered mines in a chaotic pattern and cannot locate them all. Scott Savitz, an expert at the Rand Corporation, said a safe corridor could be established in days, but clearing the mines could take weeks or months.

The IMO says it is developing a prioritized evacuation plan based on humanitarian needs but requires all sides to cease attacks. Cotton warned: "This is a very dangerous time. Don’t go through if you don’t know it’s safe, but I don’t think anyone really knows what’s safe anymore."

Advocates worry shipowners may abandon vessels without paying wages. Anish, the Indian sailor, said he hasn’t been paid by his Dubai agent for nine months. His contract ends on May 20, but he fears the company will withhold his money. "Maybe the company will pay me after that. I don’t know," he said.