Safety elusive for crews stuck at sea in Strait of Hormuz as death toll climbs

The Strait of Hormuz has become increasingly dangerous for seafarers as the death toll from attacks on tankers rises, with 25 seafarers killed since the Iran war began. Shipping operators are reevaluating crew protection measures, and the International Maritime Organisation has called for greater protection for seafarers, regardless of nationality.

The Philippines, which employs a significant portion of the global seafaring workforce, has prohibited the deployment of seafarers to high-risk zones in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. Despite these restrictions, sailors continue to sign up for contracts in the region, driven by higher wages. However, the mental health of seafarers has been severely impacted, with a third consecutive decline in the happiness index reported by the Mission to Seafarers.

Brief written by urgent.news from The National Business's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.