Around 70 vessels from HK stranded in Middle East
Approximately 70 to 80 vessels associated with the Hong Kong Shipowners Association remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz due to regional conflict. Industry leaders are prioritizing the safety and supply needs of the 1,400 to 1,600 seafarers currently on board.
Why it matters
The situation underscores the vulnerability of global maritime trade routes and the humanitarian risks faced by crews during geopolitical instability.
An estimated 70 to 80 of Hong Kong Shipowners Association member vessels are currently stranded near the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflicts in the Middle East, with approximately 1,400 to 1,600 crew members on board.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, HKSOA Chairman Richard Hext said that before the latest brief ceasefire, around 100 such vessels belonging to members of the HKSOA, carrying approximately 2,000 seafarers, were directly affected by the situation.
“Now, during the ceasefire window, we estimate that about 20 to 30 of those vessels were able to leave the area safely,” Hext said, with roughly 70 to 80 association member ships with around 1,400 to 1,600 seafarers on board remaining in or near the conflict zone.
“The safety of our seafarers is paramount,” Hext said, adding that the association is closely monitoring the situation and liaising with relevant authorities.
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