Indian Merchant Sailors Stranded as Iran-US Conflict Escalates

Approximately 20,000 seafarers, including thousands of Indians, remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following a cycle of escalation between Iran, the United States, and Israel. The crisis began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. In response, Iran restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Casualties among merchant crews have risen, with the International Maritime Organization reporting eleven deaths, including at least four Indian nationals. On March 1, the Palau-flagged oil tanker MV Skylight was hit by missiles off Khasab, Oman, killing Captain Ashish Kumar Singh and engineer Dalip Singh. More recently, an Indian-flagged livestock ship sank off Oman on May 13, though all 14 crew members were rescued. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has tracked dozens of similar incidents involving projectile fire against ships.

Despite these lethal risks, Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the Forward Seamen's Union of India, notes that high unemployment and poverty continue to drive Indians toward maritime work. Many sailors are currently waiting in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, attempting to cross the restricted waterway.