Strait of Hormuz Crisis Traps 6,000 Sailors as Ship Attacks Mount
UN maritime chief Arsenio Dominguez warns that attacks on commercial vessels are escalating and that seafarers remain stranded near the waterway
By AXY Defense Desk ·
Key points
- UN maritime chief Arsenio Dominguez said about 6,000 seafarers remain trapped near the Strait of Hormuz and that attacks on ships are escalating.
- Iran accused the U.S. military of using VHF Channel 16, an international distress and safety channel, to threaten civilian crews; Fox News Digital could not verify the claims.
- CENTCOM defended its enforcement of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and said vessels receive multiple warnings.
- The IMO has recorded 100 confirmed maritime incidents as of Oct. 9, with 24 seafarers killed since Feb. 28, according to the reported remarks.
- The IMO could review its rules, but no formal investigation has been announced.
On Sunday, the top official of the United Nations' maritime agency warned that thousands of sailors remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on commercial ships continue to rise. International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told Fox News Digital that the situation for international shipping is “severe and critical,” and said that “there is a double blockade and too many vessels have been attacked, particularly in recent days.” He said around 6,000 seafarers have been trapped since the beginning of the conflict and that seafarers have continued to die in the attacks. His warning came after Iran accused the U.S. military of using an international emergency radio channel to threaten civilian crews. Reports cited by the Financial Times say 24 ships have been attacked on the waterway over roughly two weeks.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean. Iran lies on its northern shore and Oman on its southern side of the strait. A large share of the world's seaborne oil passes through it, which is why disruptions there are watched closely by governments, shipping companies, insurers and energy markets far from the Gulf. Because the channel is narrow and busy, ships have little room to manoeuvre, and any attack or threat can quickly affect many vessels at once.
What the UN maritime chief said about the attacks
Dominguez described the danger in direct terms. He said seafarers “have continued to perish in these attacks,” and he urged ship operators not to transit the strait or put crews at risk “until we have guarantees.” In other words, he is asking for assurances of safety before ships try to pass, rather than telling crews to sail through the area and hope for the best. He did not describe in the reported remarks what those guarantees would look like or who would provide them.
The number of trapped sailors is the most human part of the crisis. Seafarers are the people who crew merchant ships, and when a waterway becomes unsafe, they can be stuck aboard vessels that cannot leave safely. Their employers, families and the countries that register their ships all face uncertainty about when they can return home. Dominguez's comments make clear that the IMO sees the crew situation as a central part of the crisis, not a side effect of it.
Iran's complaint over VHF Channel 16
The central dispute raised by Iran concerns VHF Channel 16. VHF stands for very high frequency, a radio band used by ships at sea. Channel 16 is an internationally designated distress and safety channel, meaning it is meant for emergency calls and urgent safety messages, such as when a vessel needs help or when ships need to hail one another. Its purpose is narrow, and using it for other messages can interfere with the emergencies it exists to handle.
Iran's ambassador to the IMO, Seyed Ali Mousavi, submitted a complaint dated Oct. 9 and circulated it to IMO member states. According to a copy reviewed by Fox News Digital, the letter said that “VHF Channel 16 has been repeatedly occupied for prolonged periods by the United States military forces operating in the Persian Gulf.” It also said that “during such transmissions, Iranian seafarers have been addressed in Persian with threatening, abusive and provocative language and in certain instances urged to abandon their vessels.” Tehran described the channel as being turned into an “instrument of military intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews.”
The letter did not include recordings, transcripts or specific details of the alleged exchanges. Fox News Digital said it could not independently verify the accusations. That gap matters, because the claims are serious and would be difficult to assess without evidence of what was actually said and when.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the American military headquarters responsible for the region, defended its enforcement of the naval blockade of Iranian ports. CENTCOM said that “the U.S. naval blockade has been in place for months and is professionally communicated to all international mariners,” and that “vessels that refuse to comply with blockade enforcement receive multiple warnings, with ample opportunity to comply.” It also said that American forces “remain highly vigilant, focused, and professional while fully enforcing the naval blockade against Iran.”
The naval blockade and why it complicates shipping
A naval blockade is a military measure in which a navy seeks to prevent ships from entering or leaving particular ports or coastlines. In this case, the blockade concerns Iranian ports. For commercial shipping, a blockade means vessels can face warnings, instructions or enforcement actions, and crews must decide whether to comply, turn back or proceed. When multiple armed forces, commercial vessels and communications channels are involved in the same narrow space, confusion and risk can rise quickly.
Dominguez used the phrase “double blockade” in his remarks, but the reported comments do not explain the term in detail. What is clear from the source is that he sees ship owners and crews caught between military enforcement and the wider danger of attacks on commercial traffic. Fox News Digital has also reported that Iran has threatened to halt Red Sea traffic in response to the U.S. military blockade of ports, which suggests the dispute extends beyond a single waterway.
Fraudulent registries and shuttle tankers
Dominguez also raised a separate concern about who is operating ships in the region. Every commercial ship is registered under a national flag, which determines the rules it must follow and the authority that oversees it. A “false flag” is a registration that is fraudulent or misleading, meaning the vessel claims a flag it does not legitimately hold. This can make it harder for authorities to hold owners accountable and can leave crews with less protection.
He said “there is an increase in fraudulent registries with false flags that are taking the risk and acting as shuttle tankers in order to bring goods in and out.” A shuttle tanker is a ship that moves cargo back and forth over short routes, often between a larger vessel and a port or between nearby locations. Dominguez said this is “one of the reasons that we're seeing an escalation,” and he blamed “irresponsible shipowners that are taking the risk in order to actually be able to trade and move some of the goods and the cargoes.” His comments suggest that the risk is not only military but also commercial, as some operators may accept danger to keep cargo moving.
The scale of incidents and the human cost
The IMO has recorded 100 confirmed maritime incidents across the region as of Oct. 9, according to the reported remarks. The same reporting says 24 seafarers have been killed since the conflict began on Feb. 28. The Financial Times figure of 24 ships attacked over roughly two weeks is a different measure, focused on a shorter period and on ships attacked rather than total incidents or deaths, so the numbers should be read as describing different aspects of the same crisis rather than as directly interchangeable.
The pattern of attacks, deaths and trapped crews points to a wider problem than any single incident. Shipping relies on predictable routes, insurance coverage and crews willing to sail. When those conditions weaken, shipping companies may reroute, delay or halt voyages, and the effects can reach ports, cargo owners and consumers who never see the waterway itself. Analysts often watch these kinds of disruptions for signs of higher freight costs and insurance premiums, although the source material does not provide specific market figures.
Why it matters beyond the Gulf
For ordinary readers, the crisis matters for three main reasons. First, it affects people's safety: crews on merchant ships are civilians, and the IMO's warnings are directly about their lives. Second, it affects trade: a disrupted strait can slow the movement of goods and energy, which can feed into prices over time. Third, it tests international rules: the question of whether radio channels meant for emergencies should be protected from military or political use is one that affects every ship at sea.
Dominguez's comments also show how the UN agency is positioning itself. He stressed that member states have equal rights to raise concerns regardless of the conflict. He said, “We have a responsibility, and I have a duty as well, to circulate letters and notes that the countries actually put forward when they're also being affected.” That framing suggests the IMO sees its role as a forum for complaints and technical review, even though the conflict itself is outside its direct control.
What to watch next
Dominguez said the IMO could review its regulations and procedures to determine whether stronger safeguards are needed, but he did not announce a formal investigation. He described a process in which the organisation would “look into any technical measures or any operational aspects that we may need to clarify further within our regulatory framework,” and would discuss the matter in different meetings. He also said that if it is shown that rules need improving to avoid communication problems, or that users need more guidance on how channels should be used, that would be a role for the IMO.
Iran has asked the IMO to raise its allegations with member states and relevant international organisations, potentially including the International Telecommunication Union, which coordinates the international use of radio spectrum. Whether that request leads to formal action is not yet clear from the reported material.
The most immediate things to watch are whether ships begin transiting the strait again, whether the guarantees Dominguez called for are provided, whether the number of trapped seafarers changes, and whether the IMO takes concrete steps on radio use and ship registration. Each of these would indicate whether the crisis is easing or deepening, and each remains unresolved in the reporting so far.
Questions and answers
Why are sailors trapped near the Strait of Hormuz?
According to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, about 6,000 seafarers have been trapped since the beginning of the conflict, and attacks on commercial ships have made the waterway dangerous. He said ships should not transit the strait until guarantees are provided.
What is VHF Channel 16 and why is it part of the dispute?
VHF Channel 16 is an internationally designated maritime distress and safety channel. Iran's ambassador to the IMO alleged in an Oct. 9 letter that U.S. military forces repeatedly occupied the channel and used threatening language toward Iranian crews, a claim Fox News Digital could not independently verify.
How did the U.S. military respond to Iran's accusations?
U.S. Central Command said the naval blockade of Iranian ports has been in place for months and is communicated to all international mariners. It said vessels that refuse to comply receive multiple warnings and that American forces are fully enforcing the blockade.
What could happen next for IMO action on the Strait of Hormuz?
Dominguez said the IMO could review its regulations and procedures to determine whether stronger safeguards are needed, but he did not announce a formal investigation. Iran has asked the IMO to raise its allegations with member states and possibly the International Telecommunication Union.
Topics: Strait of Hormuz, International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, Iran, United States Central Command, Maritime security, Seafarers
Sources: Fox News World RSS
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