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Mission to Seafarers aids crews stranded by Gulf tensions
The Mission to Seafarers (MtS), the leading international maritime welfare charity, has been providing vital support to seafarers in the Gulf region, thousands of whom are stranded as military tensions disrupt key shipping routes.
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has highlighted the plight of an estimated 20,000 seafarers currently trapped by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the number could be significantly higher. Reports suggest that more than 3,000 vessels are delayed or unable to transit the region, meaning that as many as 60,000 seafarers may now be stranded at sea.
These crews face serious risks to their safety and growing anxiety for their families at home. With few options available, many remain on board vessels operating in a volatile maritime environment. Extended time at sea without shore leave or crew changes also raises serious concerns about fatigue, stress and overall vessel safety.
Despite security restrictions limiting access to some ports, The Mission to Seafarers continues to deliver emergency assistance and remote welfare support. Teams in the UAE, Bahrain, Aqaba and Cyprus remain operational, arranging emergency deliveries of food and water and assisting seafarers facing abandonment. Remote support is also available through the organisation’s global chaplaincy network and the Happy@Sea app.
Peter Rouch, Secretary General at The Mission to Seafarers, commented: “We are deeply concerned for the thousands of seafarers facing growing danger as tensions escalate in the Middle East. Once again, men and women who simply set out to do their jobs – sustaining global trade and supporting the daily lives of communities around the world – find themselves in harm’s way.”
