Iran War's Forgotten Captives: Sailors Trapped in Arabian Gulf for Months

Merchant seamen are caught in the crossfire of the Iran war, with thousands stranded and facing perilous conditions in the Middle East. About two dozen sailors aboard the MSC Francesca have been held on the ship, anchored off Iran's coast, for nearly four months since its seizure in April.

These sailors, from countries including Montenegro, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have limited contact with the outside world, receiving only 30 minutes of internet access every few days. They are part of a larger group of nearly 20,000 sailors who were initially stranded when the conflict escalated and Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz.

While many ships have navigated through the strait, around 6,000 sailors remain in the region. They continue essential duties like maintenance and cargo checks, but their situation is precarious, with no clear path home. The conflict has seen direct attacks on ships, with the International Maritime Organization reporting that 17 sailors have been killed in 64 attacks near the Strait of Hormuz since the war began. Three mariners died following a U.S. Navy strike on a ship in June.

The situation extends beyond the Strait of Hormuz, with Houthi militia targeting vessels in the Red Sea and recent explosions at an Egyptian port. The pace of ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has drastically reduced, highlighting the risks faced by civilian seafarers now operating on the front lines of armed conflict.

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have no means of communication except every several days 30 minutes of internet