Ships anchored off Gulf coasts after Strait of Hormuz blaze; Indian crew members express concern

Shipping operations across parts of the Gulf have come to a standstill after a crude oil tanker caught fire after being hit by an Iranian missile in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, forcing vessels to drop anchor amid escalating tensions in the region.

“From the day the crude oil tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz, all ships have been anchored,” said Rajashekar Chinthakindi, a Hyderabad-based Chief Engineer currently serving aboard a crude oil carrier. Speaking to The Hindu over the phone on Wednesday (March 4, 2026), he said their vessel, which had been transporting crude oil from Iraq to Dubai, has remained stationary since the incident.

“Our ship is anchored near Sharjah, in the mid-sea,” Mr. Rajashekar said. “Under normal circumstances, if we sail for three to four hours from here, we would reach the destination and unload the crude oil. But now, we are unable to move even an inch.”

He noted that hundreds of ships are similarly anchored along the coasts of Gulf nations, particularly vessels that need to sail through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most strategic maritime chokepoints.

According to Mr. Rajashekar, his current contract requires him to remain on board for the next three months as per the shipping agreement. However, he expressed concern over the prevailing tension and uncertainty in the region.

On the availability of food and essentials, he said ships typically carry surplus provisions. “We have sufficient groceries for a few more days. If the conflict continues and we are forced to remain here longer, our management may arrange to send additional supplies through small boats from Dubai,” he added.

Mr. Rajashekar also revealed that one person from Andhra Pradesh was injured in the missile hit ship and is currently undergoing treatment in Oman.

In addition, the reports that a United States submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean have escalated tensions among merchant navy sailors.