He asked to be identified only by his initials, and that his employer and vessel not be named, for fear of losing his job. “The fear doesn’t go away. Photograph: Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty ImagesThe five Filipino seafarers interviewed did not want to talk on the record for fear of running afoul of their employers, particularly those operating in the Gulf, as well as fear of getting arrested. On the outskirts of Davao city, Nigel Nimes (19), learned that his father was in waters close to the Iran war the way many families did – through the news. “It’s quite close” to the Iran war, he said of his father’s ship.

Source: The Irish Times April 05, 2026 05:00 UTC