Posted on March 9, 2026
By Mike Schuler
The escalating military conflict in the Middle East has placed seafarers and port workers on the front lines of a geopolitical crisis, prompting urgent calls from international maritime organizations for the protection of civilian shipping and the personnel who operate it.
As tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters reach critical levels, major shipping and labor organizations have issued coordinated statements demanding that all parties respect the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation and safeguard those simply doing their jobs at sea.
“The recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East is causing disruption to global liner shipping, with many carriers pausing or rerouting services as they assess the evolving security situation,” said World Shipping Council President and CEO Joe Kramek.”The safety of seafarers is paramount. Seafarers must not be targeted or placed at risk as a result of conflict, and the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation must be respected.”
The conflict has already resulted in confirmed casualties among maritime workers. One seafarer was killed after a projectile struck the tanker MKD VYOM off the coast of Oman, with the crew member working in the Marshall Islands-flagged ship’s engine room at the time of the attack.Four additional seafarers were injured when the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was also hit off Oman’s coast.
The International Maritime Organization’s Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez issued a direct statement on the crisis: “No attack on innocent seafarers or civilian shipping is ever justified. These crews are simply doing their jobs and must be protected from the effects of wider geopolitical tensions.”
Dominguez urged shipping companies to exercise maximum caution and recommended that “where possible, vessels should avoid transiting the affected region until conditions improve.”
The situation has become particularly acute around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. While Iran has not formally announced a closure of the strait, ships have received radio transmissions from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stating that “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz.”More than 200 vessels are currently at anchor around the strait as a result.
The International Chamber of Shipping, European Shipowners, and Asian Shipowners Association issued a joint statement emphasizing the severity of the threat. “Our foremost concern is for the wellbeing of the seafarers and civilians affected. We were deeply concerned to learn about the attacks on seafarers and the tragic loss of life,” the organizations stated.They stressed that “all parties must take all necessary steps to safeguard the safety of seafarers who are simply going about their job and have found themselves, through no fault of their own, in a highly volatile situation.”
Germany’s Association of Shipowners reported that at least 25 ships from seven German shipping companies are currently in Gulf waters, including two cruise ships carrying approximately 7,000 passengers who cannot leave the region safely due to the Strait of Hormuz situation.The organization noted that crisis meetings are ongoing and companies are diverting ships where operationally possible, including routing around the Cape of Good Hope instead of through the Suez Canal.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation took a strong stance on seafarer rights in conflict zones. ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton declared: “All transport workers in the region – whether at airports, in ports, on ships or in any other transport role – must be protected from military action. They are innocent bystanders to this conflict, they must never be targeted, and they must be removed from harm’s way.”
Cotton specifically addressed the rights of seafarers facing dangerous conditions: “Seafarers on ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, or on ships planning to go near the Strait, must be protected by being granted the right to refuse to sail in what the ITF believes is clearly becoming a ‘Warlike Operations Area.’”
Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson echoed these concerns, stating: “Seafarers are not expendable, and they must not be treated as collateral damage in regional or international conflicts. The current situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz represents a serious escalation for those working at sea, many of whom are simply trying to do their jobs and wish to return home safely.”
The organization emphasized that seafarers must be fully informed of all known risks before entering war zones, provided unhindered right to repatriation if they decline to enter high-risk zones, and protected from disciplinary action or loss of pay where safety decisions are taken in good faith.
The International Association of Ports and Harbors also raised concerns about port workers at risk. “Port workers also find themselves at the forefront of this conflict. They are at risk of injury or worse while these attacks persist, both inside and outside port gates,” the organization stated.IAPH is convening an extraordinary meeting of its risk and resilience committee to share expertise on protecting port workers.
The collateral damage is not limited to the immediate conflict zone. Airport workers have been killed and injured at facilities across the region, including Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport, and Kuwait International Airport.A worker was also injured in a drone attack on Duqm Port in Oman.
As Kramek noted, “The Middle East sits at the crossroads of major global trade routes. When services through the region are suspended or diverted, the impact is not limited to the immediate area. Longer voyages and changes to network rotations can lead to delays and scheduling adjustments across connected trade routes worldwide.”
The maritime industry now faces a critical test of its commitment to protecting the men and women who keep global trade moving, even as geopolitical forces beyond their control place them in harm’s way. The unified message from across the industry is clear: civilian maritime workers must never become casualties of conflicts in which they have no part.
