Around 1,500 ships and nearly 20,000 crew members are currently stranded in the Gulf region following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Speaking at the Maritime Convention of the Americas in Panama on Thursday, Dominguez said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has severely disrupted global maritime trade and placed thousands of seafarers in danger.
The blockade followed the war launched on February 28 involving Israel, the United States and Iran, triggering retaliatory actions by Tehran across the region and forcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes.
“Right now, we have approximately 20,000 crewmen and around 1,500 ships trapped,” Dominguez said, adding that the stranded seafarers are “innocent people who are doing their jobs every day for the benefit of other countries.”
He further revealed that more than 30 attacks on vessels have been reported during the crisis, resulting in the deaths of 10 sailors.
The IMO chief urged shipping companies to avoid sending additional vessels into the Gulf region to prevent further casualties and economic losses.
Before the conflict escalated, nearly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum and gas supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The continued closure has already triggered a sharp rise in global hydrocarbon prices and heightened concerns over supply chain disruptions.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump earlier announced plans for a naval escort operation aimed at reopening the strait, but later withdrew the move. Washington is now awaiting Iran’s response to proposals aimed at ending the conflict and restoring navigation through the vital maritime corridor.
