Hormuz Crisis Strands 6,000 Seafarers as Gulf States Seek Routes Around the Strait
Around 6,000 seafarers on roughly 400 ships are stuck in the Persian Gulf, unable to safely exit through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UN’s maritime chief, as Gulf states invest in Red Sea, Fujairah and pipeline routes to reduce reliance on the chokepoint.
Tension around the Strait of Hormuz is trapping thousands of crew members at sea and accelerating efforts to bypass one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes.
Arsenio Dominguez, head of the UN’s International Maritime Organization, says about 6,000 seafarers aboard roughly 400 ships remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to safely exit through Hormuz. The strait is a narrow passage between Iran and Oman used by a large share of global oil and gas exports.
The current near-closure stems from the wider war involving Iran, which has raised risks for commercial vessels transiting the area. Shipowners and crews now face uncertainty about when and under what conditions movements through the chokepoint can resume.
In response, Gulf states are investing heavily to shift exports away from Hormuz. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are expanding Red Sea and Fujairah export routes. Other regional producers, including Kuwait and Iraq, are pursuing alternative pipelines and ports to reduce dependence on the strait.
These infrastructure projects aim to ensure oil and gas can continue to move even when Hormuz is under threat. They also signal that governments in the region expect elevated risk around the strait for some time.
Developments to watch include any change in the number of stranded ships, reports of incidents involving commercial vessels near Hormuz, and concrete announcements or construction milestones for alternative ports and pipelines around the Gulf and Red Sea.
Sources
- OSINT