Hundreds of Indian sailors who recently escaped the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz say they are reluctant to return to one of the world’s busiest shipping routes after witnessing missile attacks, explosions and months of uncertainty during the Gulf conflict.
India is one of the largest suppliers of seafarers to the global merchant shipping industry, with over 3.2 lakh Indian sailors employed worldwide in 2025. When fighting between the United States and Iran intensified earlier this year, thousands of Indian mariners found themselves stranded aboard commercial vessels operating in and around the Gulf. More than 3,600 Indian sailors were later assisted by the Shipping Ministry in returning home.
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Despite a temporary ceasefire, many seafarers remain traumatised by their experiences. Thirty-one-year-old Sitaram Tandel from Gujarat recalled how his cargo vessel came under attack weeks after another ship operated by the same company was struck, killing an Indian crew member. He said the incident left the entire crew mentally shaken even though everyone on his vessel survived.
Another sailor, Ratheesan Kuttiyan from Kerala, said his crew initially refused to cross the Strait of Hormuz because of the ongoing violence. Once hostilities eased, crew members were required to sign consent forms before sailing through what they described as a dangerous zone under the cover of darkness.
Haridas Puthiyakodi, another Kerala-based seafarer, said he kept his family unaware that he was operating near the conflict zone to avoid causing panic. After learning the truth, his wife urged him never to return to the Gulf.
Veteran sailor Hirenkumar Praveenbhai, who has spent more than two decades at sea, described seeing missiles fly close to his vessel while his ship remained anchored for nearly three months due to the blockade. Although operations eventually resumed after the ceasefire, he said he had made up his mind never to sail through Hormuz again, adding that no amount of money was worth risking his life.
While many Indian sailors depend on Gulf shipping routes for their livelihoods, several now face the difficult choice between financial security and personal safety as tensions in the region continue to cast a shadow over global maritime trade.
