Oil Ship Blasted: Seafarer's Harrowing Escape

On March 1, an oil tanker named Skylight was struck by a missile as it neared the Strait of Hormuz. Sunil Puniya, a crew member, described waking to explosions and a ship engulfed in flames. The attack occurred in the engine room, leading to a complete blackout and smoke-filled corridors, forcing survivors to jump into the sea.

Sunil narrowly escaped but lost his close friend, Dalip Rathore, and the ship's captain in the incident. Dalip's body was never recovered. Their story highlights the increasing dangers faced by seafarers in the region.

Since the conflict escalated, 38 commercial vessels have been hit near the Strait. This has left over 20,000 seafarers stranded, facing issues like unpaid wages, contract disputes, and shortages of basic supplies. The International Transport Workers' Federation has received over 2,000 calls for help from trapped crews.

Many shipowners have failed to support their crews, leading to abandonment cases. The Skylight, previously sanctioned by the US, was uninsured and stateless at the time of the attack, complicating compensation for victims and their families.