Around 6,000 Seafarers Stranded in the Gulf, IMO Says

ARK New.. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has estimated that around 6,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Gulf amid escalating security tensions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said, "These attacks serve no purpose other than escalating fear," urging all relevant parties to avoid routing their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier on Wednesday, vessel-tracking data showed that four oil and gas tankers turned back after attempting to transit the strategic waterway following renewed attacks on commercial shipping.

A Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, Al Rakiyat, was struck on its port side while passing through the strait, triggering a fire near the engine room and raising fears of a possible explosion. The entire crew was safely evacuated.

Meanwhile, the Saudi oil tanker Wadiyan sustained damage off the coast of Oman while transiting the area. Qatar and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the attacks, while the Iranian Foreign Ministry said vessels using uncoordinated routes or tampering with tracking systems expose themselves to danger and complicate Tehran's efforts to facilitate safe navigation through the strait.

The escalation pushed global oil prices up by more than 5 percent, amid growing concerns over disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which a significant share of the Gulf's oil and gas exports reaches international markets.

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