Vinay Yadav has spent years working on oil tankers, from South Asia to Africa. It’s a dangerous job on a normal day — but his latest voyage became his most perilous yet. After picking up diesel oil in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year, the vessel he was working on started its voyage across the Persian Gulf, headed for South Africa. On Feb. 28, as the ship was preparing to cross the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced over short-wave radio that the United States and Israel had launched a war in the country — and that Iran was closing the Strait. “It was a surprise for all of us,” said Yadav, speaking to MS NOW from Agra, India. “And then we started counting: one day, then two days, then weeks, then months, and then we were like, yes, this is going to be a long, long stay here.” As a result, Yadav said he and the ship were stuck for seven weeks near the strait, one of an estimated 20,000 seafarers on roughly 2,000 ships still stranded at sea, according to the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ maritime agency. Iran has proposed allowing ships from friendly nations to use the waterway, but only after paying fees. The U.S. has responded by blocking ships from entering or leaving the strait, and has cautioned shipping companies that any passage fees paid to Iran could trigger U.S. sanctions. “In the night, we could see the missiles getting intercepted. In the…
Want more insights? Join Grow With Caliber - our career elevating newsletter and get our take on the future of work delivered weekly.
