Seafarers must not bear burden

Friday, 26 June 2026 15:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE idea that the Strait of Hormuz will simply snap back to precrisis normality is a dangerous illusion.

A peace agreement allows industry bodies and the International Maritime Organisation to advance their plan to evacuate the thousands of seafarers stranded in the area. It signals an important step toward restoring safety in this vital maritime corridor for seafarers and ships, as well as safeguarding the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation.

But the risk to seafarers and shipping has not disappeared. The maritime sector is likely to experience a prolonged period of elevated operational risk driven by insurance uncertainty, crewing concerns, legal complexities and residual geopolitical tensions.

As the pathway to full reopening is being established, it should not be forgotten that freedom of navigation and the safety of civilian seafarers are not bargaining chips. They are the baseline on which global trade rests, and they are being eroded in real time.

Shipping has managed one of the most volatile maritime security environments in recent memory with remarkable pragmatism, yet the burden of this conflict has fallen on those least able to bear it: the crews.

The maritime industry’s major associations — BIMCO, ICS, Intercargoo and Intertanko — late last week issued a rare unified condemnation of the surge in attacks on merchant shipping that should not be forgotten. The IMO has verified 46 attacks since late February, with 14 confirmed seafarer deaths. These are not abstract numbers. They are civilian mariners who had no say in the cargoes they carried or the routes they sailed.

The attack on the Palauflagged Settebello (IMO: 9162916), which left three Indian seafarers dead, marks a grim turning point. US Central Command has acknowledged “disabling” the vessel as part of its campaign against Iranian oil exports. Washington insists these are precision actions aimed at enforcement, not destruction. But the outcome speaks for itself: civilian fatalities in an operation that was never supposed to produce them.

A second US strike, this time on Jalveer (IMO: 9486283), underscored the widening scope of kinetic enforcement. Meanwhile, Iran continues to threaten closure of Hormuz, launch missile and drone attacks across the region, and engage in reciprocal strikes with Israel. The result is a maritime corridor where miscalculation continues to be a deadly risk to be managed.

The industry’s demands are modest and rooted in international law: stop attacking commercial vessels, protect seafarers, exercise restraint, respect freedom of navigation and work toward deescalation. These should not be controversial demands.

Rebuilding confidence in Hormuz will require more than a ceasefire. It will require visible restraint from all parties and strict adherence to the Law of Armed Conflict, including the obligation to minimise civilian harm. These lessons must be addressed beyond the current tentative peace deal.

Shipowners and operators have little choice but to elevate due diligence, tighten risk assessments and put crew safety above all else. That does not change just because a deal is now in sight. The world depends on these mariners. They must not be treated as expendable.

(Source: https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1157458/The-Daily-View-Seafarers-must-not-bear-burden)