Seafarers train for emergencies. A fire on board, a technical failure or severe weather demands immediate action – but usually for a limited time. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is different: an emergency with no clear end.

While cargo is gradually rerouted out of the region, some Hapag-Lloyd vessels and their crews remain trapped inside the Persian Gulf for months. One question dominates every discussion: Is it safe enough to leave? “The crew cannot simply go ashore to safety,” says Silke Lehmköster, Managing Director Fleet. “Basically, you’re sending someone into a war unarmed.”

The decision to wait is difficult, but necessary. Leaving is simply too dangerous. While everyone is eager for news from shore, life on board goes on.

Fleet teams in Hamburg stay in close contact with the vessels. Information is shared regularly, crew changes are prepared wherever possible, and captains receive daily assessments by phone. “Transparency is key,” Lehmköster explains. “Our crews need to understand how we assess the situation and what it means for them.” In addition, all crew members have received psychological support and increased internet volumes to be able to contact family members and friends at all times.

On every vessel stuck in the Persian Gulf are seafarers facing uncertainty with remarkable professionalism – while waiting anxiously to get home. Their resilience is a reminder that global trade depends on the people who keep ships moving – even when they can’t move at all.