The Mission to Seafarers, a leading international maritime welfare charity, continues to provide vital support on the ground to seafarers in the Gulf region, thousands of whom are stranded as military tensions disrupt shipping routes.

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has highlighted the plight of an estimated 20,000 seafarers currently trapped by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the number could be significantly higher. Reports suggest that more than 3,000 vessels are delayed or unable to transit the region, meaning that as many as 60,000 seafarers may now be stranded at sea.

These crews face serious risks to their safety and growing anxiety for their families at home. With few options available, many remain on board vessels operating in a volatile environment. Extended time at sea without shore leave or crew changes also raises serious concerns about fatigue, stress, and overall safety.

Despite security restrictions limiting access to some ports, The Mission to Seafarers continues to deliver emergency assistance and remote welfare support. Teams in the UAE, Bahrain, Aqaba (Jordan), and Cyprus remain operational, arranging emergency deliveries of food and water and assisting seafarers facing abandonment. Remote support is also available through the organisation’s global chaplaincy network and the Happy@Sea app.

Peter Rouch, Secretary General at The Mission to Seafarers, commented:

“We are deeply concerned for the thousands of seafarers facing growing danger as tensions escalate in the Middle East. Once again, men and women who simply set out to do their jobs – sustaining global trade and supporting the daily lives of communities around the world – find themselves in harm’s way. We support the call of IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez for ships to avoid sailing through the Strait of Hormuz while conditions remain unsafe.

For crews currently stranded in the Gulf, the risks are very real. Travel restrictions, heightened security and the difficulty of reaching vessels mean support is harder to deliver, even as seafarers face mounting uncertainty and emotional strain. We commend the companies and agencies working tirelessly to keep ships supplied and crews connected, and we urge the maritime community to continue doing everything possible to protect seafarers and their vessels.

At The Mission to Seafarers, this is exactly where you will find us – standing alongside seafarers and the maritime industry. Despite the conflict, our welfare teams across the Middle East remain operational, providing emergency supplies where we can reach vessels and offering remote support when that is the only option. Seafarers must never feel abandoned when they most need support.”