Strait of Hormuz Closed Amid Israel-Iran War, Stranding Thousands of Seafarers and Disrupting Global Oil Trade

-Israeli war on Iran that started February 28, 2026, according to the International Maritime Organization as reported by @ABC. Vessel owners halted traffic through the strait on February 28, 2026, the same day the war began, and insurance companies stopped covering ships in the region almost immediately afterward.

The strait normally carries as much as 20% of the world's crude oil and refined petroleum products.

One seafarer, speaking anonymously to @ABC, said they have been waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, 2026. 'It's been almost 50 days since the war started, and uncertainty is our biggest fear,' the seafarer stated. ' The seafarer reported seeing missiles passing over their heads, drones and planes flying by every day, and vessels getting hit.

There are reports of sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the seafarer added. Another seafarer told The Guardian they gave notice exactly one month ago that they are not willing to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. Joshua Hutchinson, chief commercial officer at maritime risk agency Ambrey, told @ABC that the industry expects the strait to remain under the control of Iranian authorities while the United States intensifies operations against Iranian vessels.

Hutchinson stated that the industry needs clear communication for vessels to safely leave the Persian Gulf and clear the backlog. He estimated it could take three weeks for all vessels to clear the Strait of Hormuz. Some vessels in the area are rationing food and water, according to the anonymous seafarer who spoke to @ABC.

The seafarer described listening on ship-to-ship communication systems to accounts of crews growing desperate for basic provisions. The International Transport Workers' Federation has received roughly 1,900 inquiries from seafarers across hundreds of vessels since the conflict began, as reported by @ABC.

About 20% of the inquiries were requests for repatriation, while others raised concerns about dwindling supplies of fuel, food, and water.

The federation has helped repatriate 450 seafarers from the region. 'Civilian seafarers have already lost their lives, and tens of thousands more trapped near the Strait of Hormuz are spending every waking moment consumed by anxiety about how — or whether — they will make it home,' said John Canias, ITF Maritime Operations Coordinator.

Canias added that seafarers transport 90% of everything relied on in daily lives, including food, medicine, and fuel.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most vital global trade routes, with seafarers stranded for weeks aboard ships and tankers on either side of the waterway. The seafarer who spoke anonymously to @ABC said, 'We feel trapped — like we're in a prison. ' Hutchinson noted that the situation will put continued strains on new ceasefire and peace talks.