Mideast war traps 20,000 seafarers, 15,000 cruise passengers in GulfCruise ships have become a common sight in the UAE as tourism has boomed in recent years. (Photo: AFP)LONDON - Around 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise ship passengers are stuck in the Gulf because of the Middle East war, the UN's International Maritime Organization told AFP on Thursday. The maritime sector said it had designated the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Gulf as a "warlike operations area", granting seafarers additional protections as the Middle East war engulfs the crucial energy transit route. Several shipping groups, including Danish shipping giant Maersk, have suspended bookings in the Gulf. While seafarers can request to leave a ship and be repatriated, the reality is not so clear.

Source: Bangkok Post March 05, 2026 23:03 UTC