Sailors stressed and exhausted after months trapped by Strait of Hormuz blockade
Sailors who have been stuck on their ships for months because of the Strait of Hormuz blockade are showing serious signs of stress and exhaustion. BBC Asia spoke with families and seafarer unions.
BBC AsiaAccording to a BBC Asia report, ongoing military tension and the effective blockade in the Strait of Hormuz have left cargo ships under various flags stuck in the Persian Gulf for months. Many crew members are Filipino, Indian and Bangladeshi sailors. Families and seafarer unions warn about the health effects of extended periods at sea without rotation.
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) said the situation requires urgent resolution and that crew changes are being blocked. Shipowner groups report that insurance premiums and operating costs continue to rise. Some tanker companies are taking the Cape of Good Hope route, absorbing additional fuel and time costs.
The global oil market has kept short-term supply concerns limited despite uncertainty in Hormuz. Strategic petroleum reserves and alternative pipelines have served as partial buffers. But the situation of the sailors creates a growing cost in soft-power and humanitarian terms if the war drags on.
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