Seafarer update on the Strait of Hormuz

We continue to remember seafarers caught up in the conflict in the area around the Strait of Hormuz. The maritime threat environment across region remains critical.

1. The United States “Project Freedom” operation enters its first 24 hours, aimed at guiding stranded vessels out of the Persian Gulf. Information on the “Enhanced Security” project are shared here in the JMIC update (004-2026)and also in updates from CENTCOM.

The United States has said that attack helicopters were used to eliminate Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping. It was also reported that two vessels successfully exited the Gulf under U.S. protection. The Alliance Fairfax, a U.S.-flagged ship operated by Farrell Lines, a subsidiary of Maersk Line Limited (MLL), completed the journey on Monday, the company said in a statement, with all crew members safe.

Several industry comments on the Project:

• INTERTANKO Marine Director Phillip Belcher: “It is too early to assess whether this represents a positive step. Details remain limited, and the threat to merchant vessels from Iran persists. It is unclear whether the United States would intervene in the event of an Iranian response, or how traffic flows would be managed by the Omani Coast Guard.”
• BIMCO Chief Safety & Security Officer Jakob Larsen: “Without consent from Iran to let commercial ships transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz, it is currently not clear whether the Iranian threat to ships can be degraded or suppressed.” “In view of the Iranian threats against any ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with Iran’s military, there is a risk of hostilities breaking out again if ‘Project Freedom’ goes ahead.” “The overall security situation for the shipping industry is currently unchanged, and our advice is for all shipowners to continue carrying out thorough risk assessments.”

2. On 4 May, Iran carried out a wide-ranging attack across the region, reinforcing concerns about the risks surrounding the Project. The 308,000-tonne Liberian-flagged ADNOC VLCC Barakah was hit by two drones about 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah while in ballast, with no pollution risk and all crew safe.

Commenting on the attack on the Barakah in a privilege speech on May 5, Philippines Senator Erwin Tulfo cited the need to reinforce global protections for maritime workers after the reported attack, as it was carrying 24 Filipino crew members. “Thankfully, all of them were unharmed, yet these incidents highlight the ongoing risks of maritime workers in a volatile region.”

3. In an important development for Filipino seafarers, The Philippines Department of Migrant Workers announced (DMW-ADVISORY-23-2026) the temporary and conditional resumption of crew change operations for Filipino seafarers onboard vessels operating in designated War Operation Areas and High-Risk Areas in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, following ceasefire developments and assurances of safe passage; the policy allows limited crew changes only for vessels that have not been attacked and remain seaworthy, maintains all existing advisories in force, upholds the right of seafarers to refuse deployment to high-risk areas, and requires that all operations be conducted safely and efficiently with the protection, safety, and welfare of seafarers as the primary consideration.

Read comment on this updated policy from The Manila Times.

4. At the request of the International Chamber of Shipping, we helped compile the attached list of seafarers’ welfare organizations that are providing support to seafarers in the region. If you have any updated information, or know of other groups providing emotional, pastoral, or other crisis support specifically for the crews impacted in the region, please let us know for an updated list.
5. For more context and commentary see:

• https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-economy-asia-migrant-workers-af7df2adfab5dc17fbd07a040e5c4edf
• https://www.tradewindsnews.com/insurance/trapped-terrorised-and-running-low-on-food-and-water-gulf-seafarers-in-despair/2-1-1985263
• https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/middle-east/apostleship-of-the-sea-20000-sailors-stranded-near-strait-of-hormuz-living-in-constant-anguish
• https://www.ncronline.org/news/catholic-maritime-ministries-urge-prayer-seafarers-trapped-amid-hormuz-blockade
• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/1/more-than-40-iranian-seafarers-killed-during-us-israeli-war-union
• https://theconversation.com/20-000-stranded-seafarers-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-face-missile-fears-exhaustion-and-isolation-281330
• https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/security/us-strikes-iran-fast-boats-two-vessels-transit-hormuz
• https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/05/middleeast/seafarers-crisis-persian-gulf-intl

6. This crisis again puts attention on the need to get the word out about seafarers’ welfare. In Splash247 article on The Maritime Attention Index shows that overall attention of the public is fading for the interest of seafarers. Though updates are coming from the media, public attention may not be following. Spikes in attention came after Ever Given grounding, Houthi attacks and Baltimore Bridge collapse. “We have spent years complaining that nobody understands what we do. That shipping’s contribution to the global economy is not understood. That seafarers are given little more than an afterthought. For six months, people have been paying attention, but the data shows that attention is beginning to drift.” “To those who have been speaking out, thank you. To those who are hesitating, there’s an opportunity now.”