The Decibel
The Decibel
The Globe and Mail
The fate of ship crews stuck in the Strait of Hormuz
21 minutes Posted Aug 18, 2026 at 9:00 am.
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More than 6,000 ship workers, including some Canadians, have been stranded in the Persian Gulf — some in the Strait of Hormuz — since the war in Iran began at the end of February. Some workers — also known as seafarers — have been stuck on board without pay, or help from their ships’ owners. With little signs of progress on talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the fate of these workers remains unclear.
One of the people they turn to for assistance is Mohamed Arrachedi, a co-ordinator for the International Transport Workers' Federation, a group that represents unions across every sector of global transport. Mr. Arrachedi shares what he’s hearing from these stranded seafarers and the challenges involved in getting them the help they need.