According to a report by Al Jazeera on May 9, 2026, maritime charities have raised concerns over the worsening mental and emotional conditions faced by thousands of seafarers trapped in the Gulf region amid the continuing conflict. Many sailors have remained stranded for more than two months as tensions linked to the US-Israel war on Iran continue to disrupt maritime activities and block safe movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
From captains and engineers to cooks and deck officers, seafarers working on commercial vessels have found themselves exposed to serious dangers at sea. Some crews have reportedly been caught directly in attacks linked to the conflict, leaving many in fear for their lives while remaining unable to leave the region safely.
The International Maritime Organization stated that at least 11 seafarers have been killed since the crisis intensified. Maritime support groups say the psychological pressure on crews has grown severe as they continue operating under constant threat.
Gavin Lim, head of the Crisis Response Network for the UK-based Sailors’ Society, described conversations with crews whose ships were struck during attacks in the Gulf.
“They thought: ‘We were going to die’,” Lim told the AFP news agency.
“They see drones flying, they see missiles flying, and then we see instances where the ships get hit,” said Lim.
“You can imagine that anxiety and fear building up.”
Meanwhile, The Seafarers’ Charity warned that nearly 20,000 seafarers stranded since February 28 are suffering from hypervigilance, burnout, exhaustion, loneliness, depression and anxiety as the blockade around the Strait of Hormuz continues……See More
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