On ships stranded around the Strait of Hormuz, daily routines like watch duty, machinery checks, and deck cleaning continue. However, the skies above are no longer peaceful. Amir, a Pakistani sailor on an oil tanker near the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reports seeing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles flying overhead multiple times. His biggest fear is debris from an aerial interception falling directly onto the ship's deck.

Not far away, Hein, a Myanmar sailor, describes aerial combat as a familiar sight. One morning, two fighter jets exchanged fire directly above his crew. As cargo ships lack combat shelters, everyone rushes inside whenever they hear roaring engines.

Illustration: Lemonde

Maritime organizations report that Middle East tensions have left about 20,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz area. Some ships anchor offshore, others remain in port, but no location offers true safety.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered the "energy jugular" or the most critical "chokepoint" in the global trade network. Connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, the strait is only about 33 km wide at its narrowest point. Shipping lanes are a mere 3 km wide in each direction. Despite its narrowness, this is the sole gateway for transporting about 20-30% of the world's crude oil supply and 20% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG). Most oil from leading Middle Eastern producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, and Kuwait must pass through here. Asia is the most affected region, accounting for about 80% of the oil passing through this strait. Any blockade or security threat in Hormuz could immediately disrupt supply chains, causing global oil prices and energy costs to surge.

Beyond the risk of shelling, isolation creates immense psychological pressure. Internet and phone signals are frequently disrupted. In Pakistan, Ali Abbas reports losing complete contact with his son for several days since the last call, which reported an attack near the port.

Sea travel also faces numerous risks due to global positioning system (GPS) jamming. Captain Seo-jun, who manages over 20 Korean and Myanmar sailors, states that when entering Dubai, they had to navigate entirely by sight. He described the feeling as "a blind person fumbling for a doorknob". The prolonged stranding has led to ships running out of essential supplies. Seo-jun's ship only has fresh food for two weeks. Many other vessels are forced to reduce rations to sustain life.

Sailor Hein recalls that before the conflict, they enjoyed buffet-style meals. Now, food is strictly managed, with only one small-portioned meal per day. Freshwater sources are also dwindling as seawater desalination systems operate inefficiently when ships are anchored for too long.

Given the unpredictable security risks from attacks, mine-laying, and GPS jamming in the Middle East region (including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea), numerous global shipping giants such as MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd have temporarily halted sending vessels through this area. Instead, to ensure the safety of crews and cargo, container ships are diverting, opting for a much longer route around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa).

With each passing day, the sole hope for these seafarers is a rare moment of phone signal to call home, or to wait for the day their ship is allowed to weigh anchor and depart from the unpredictable waters.

Ngoc Ngan (According to BBC, Lemonde)