The Broken System That Keeps Shipping Crews Stranded in the Strait of Hormuz

The report documents a surge in abandoned ships and stranded seafarers—particularly Indian, Filipino, and Syrian crew—amid regional conflict, noting that 2025 saw a record number of abandonments and thousands affected. It highlights the physical and psychological dangers faced by crews (damaged vessels, loss of power, nearby explosions), the limits of maritime and labor organizations in responding across jurisdictions, and the broader gap between functioning global shipping systems and accountability for workers on unregistered or ownerless vessels.