‘Every day we see missiles’: sailor trapped near Strait of Hormuz amid Gulf crisis

A sailor stranded aboard a vessel in the Gulf has described witnessing missile launches and hearing explosions almost daily as tensions escalate in the region following recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Wang Shang, a 32-year-old Chinese national working on a ship transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), said his vessel has been unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for nearly two weeks after navigation through the strategic waterway was effectively halted.

Speaking to AFP, Wang said the ongoing conflict has left crews in the area increasingly anxious as military activity continues nearby. He explained that the sounds of explosions and visible missile launches have become part of daily life for sailors trapped in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime energy corridors, connects the Persian Gulf with global shipping routes and is used to transport a significant share of international oil and gas supplies. Disruptions to traffic through the strait have raised concerns about both maritime safety and energy market stability.

Wang, who is from Henan province in central China, said his ship is among several vessels currently unable to leave the Gulf. He has been sharing updates about the situation through short videos posted on Douyin, the Chinese domestic version of TikTok.

In one video recorded shortly after hostilities intensified, a radio message believed to be from Iranian naval authorities can be heard warning ships that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz had been suspended. The announcement effectively halted maritime traffic through the narrow passage, leaving numerous vessels waiting offshore.

According to vessel tracking information reviewed by AFP, the ship matching Wang’s description appears to be positioned roughly 30 nautical miles north of Dubai. For safety reasons, the exact identity of the vessel has not been publicly disclosed at the sailor’s request.

Wang said the risks faced by crews became clear when a nearby vessel was damaged in an overnight incident earlier this week. He reported that the engine room of a ship located approximately two nautical miles away was struck by what he believed to be an Iranian drone.

AFP has not independently confirmed the cause of the incident.

Video footage recorded by Wang after sunrise showed a vessel emitting black smoke following the strike. He identified the ship as the Source Blessing, a Liberian-flagged container vessel.

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd confirmed that the Source Blessing caught fire overnight after being struck by debris, although the company said it could not determine whether the fragments originated from a rocket, drone or other type of weapon. The company added that no injuries were reported among the crew.

For sailors waiting in the Gulf, uncertainty over the duration of the crisis is creating additional pressure. Wang said he does not expect the situation to improve quickly and expressed concern about the balance between the risks faced by seafarers and their compensation.

He said some crews in the region had reportedly been offered double wages during the crisis, but he remained unsure whether similar arrangements would apply to his ship. According to him, the additional payment being discussed for his crew could be around $700, which he considers insufficient given the dangers involved.

The continuing disruption around the Strait of Hormuz has heightened fears of wider instability in global energy supply routes, with shipping companies and governments closely monitoring the situation.