Industry Groups Urge Gulf States to Act as 20,000 Seafarers Remain Stranded by Hormuz Crisis

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have held urgent talks with Gulf State representatives as the maritime crisis in the Strait of Hormuz enters its fifth week, with thousands of seafarers still stranded in high-risk conditions.

The meeting, held under the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), comes amid mounting concern for crews caught in the conflict zone, where ships have been attacked, supply chains disrupted, and an estimated 20,000 seafarers remain unable to safely transit out of the Gulf.

At the center of discussions were immediate, practical measures aimed at stabilizing conditions onboard vessels still trapped in