Sailors stranded in Strait of Hormuz for months ‘desperate to hug families’

As Donald Trump launches a new plan to get ships through the Strait of Hormuz, some of the thousands of seafarers who have been stranded since the start of the war are feeling less than optimistic.

‘It’s been a lot of missile watch and table tennis,’ Captain Raman Kapoor said.

As of this month, around 20,000 seafarers are trapped on 2,000 ships across the Persian Gulf as missiles continue to rain down on the Strait of Hormuz.

The Hormuz Strait is a crucial waterway, which 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas supply is meant to pass through freely.

But maritime workers have been stuck in the water ever since US President Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury with Israel on February 28 against Iran.

This includes Captain Kapoor and his 23 crew members, who are now six months into what was meant to be a four-month trip.

He told Metro: ‘We all miss our families. The first thing I will do when I get back to India is hug my wife, kids and parents.

‘I am used to working away for long stints, but this time it was different. This time I was stuck in a war zone.’

Captain Kapoor’s ship, which transports crude oil, was on its way back to India when violence erupted across the Middle East.

The ship was situated close to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been a source of utter frustration for Trump as the Iranians sealed off access, causing fuel prices to soar.

Neighboring ships have been hit with drones and debris, and Captain Kapoor’s crew has been, understandably, tense.

There is a new rota on board for round-the-clock missile watches, but a lot of cleaning jobs are also getting done as the ship waits for permission to sail.

‘We just don’t want people to isolate themselves,’ Captain Kapoor said. ‘That’s when morale really hits rock bottom, and that is my priority.’

Evenings are spent playing table tennis and eating from their recently replenished stock, delivered to them by a much smaller boat.

There is little hope Trump’s new Project Freedom, which will see the US ‘guiding’ ships which have been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, will make any difference.

The thousands of seafarers who have been stranded have heard repeated promises from both Iran and the US the Strait will reopen for their safe passage.

Captain Kapoor said: ‘Nothing ever stays for long with Trump. There are ceasefires, and then there are no ceasefires. Iran lets us in, then they change their mind.’

And the International Transport Workers’ Federation agrees.

General Secretary, Stephen Cotton, said: ‘At the moment, there is little clarity on how Project Freedom will provide safe evacuation, nor assurance from Iran that transit will be guaranteed.

‘Until we have those assurances, we are calling on shipowners and flag states not to treat this announcement as a green light. These workers have already endured weeks of fear, uncertainty and hardship. They must not now be put in harm’s way.

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