Distress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors

Hundreds of commercialized tankers are stranded connected some sides of nan Strait of Hormuz after Iran shut nan captious chokepoint connected April 18, halting postulation and leaving crews trapped amid reports of gunfire and "traumatic experiences" connected board.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered an world waterway nether world law, done which ships person nan correct of transit passage, according to nan United Nations Convention connected nan Law of nan Sea (UNCLOS).

Roughly one-fifth of nan world’s lipid proviso passes done nan Strait of Hormuz, making it a captious chokepoint for world power markets, according to nan U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Iranian gunboats opened occurrence connected a tanker nan aforesaid day, while a projectile struck a instrumentality vessel, damaging cargo.

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U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that "U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers are among nan assets executing a blockade mission impacting Iranian ports." (CENTCOM)

Audio released by maritime monitoring group TankerTrackers appears to seizure nan infinitesimal a alloy and its unit came nether occurrence while approaching nan strait, including a distress telephone from a unit member.

"Sepah Navy! Motor tanker Sanmar Herald! You gave maine clearance to go… you are firing now. Let maine move back!" nan unit personnel tin beryllium heard saying successful nan recording, according to TankerTrackers.

Iranian authorities media confirmed that shots were fired adjacent vessels to unit them to move back, while nan Ministry of External Affairs of nan Government of India said nan overseas caput was profoundly concerned.

Hapag-Lloyd, nan world’s fifth-largest instrumentality shipping line, told Fox News Digital that it had activated a situation squad arsenic its crews stay stuck connected committee vessels successful nan region.

"We person been moving from Friday day until coming pinch nan full situation squad to bring nan vessels retired — successful vain, unfortunately," said Nils Haupt, elder head of group communications astatine Hapag-Lloyd AG.

"These events tin easy lead to traumatic experiences. There is besides a important consequence from oversea mines, which has made insuring vessels for transition done nan Strait astir impossible."

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"The crews are well, but they are becoming progressively impatient and frustrated. It is very unfortunate that we could not time off today," he added. "Many ships are still stuck successful nan Persian Gulf."

"Our six ships are anchored adjacent nan port of Dubai, and each crews dream for an betterment successful nan situation," Haupt said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said connected April 18 that nan strait would stay closed until nan U.S. lifts its blockade connected Iranian ports, informing ships not to move from anchorage aliases consequence being treated arsenic "enemy" collaborators.

Iran has antecedently based on that restrictions connected its lipid exports and shipping magnitude to "economic warfare," framing actions successful nan Strait of Hormuz arsenic a consequence to overseas unit connected its economy, according to statements from Iranian officials and authorities media successful past incidents.

"Approaching nan Strait of Hormuz will beryllium considered practice pinch nan enemy, and immoderate violating alloy will beryllium targeted," nan IRGC said successful a connection carried by nan semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

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Fishing boats dot nan oversea arsenic cargo ships, successful nan background, sail done nan Arabian Gulf toward nan Strait of Hormuz disconnected nan United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo)

The United States imposed nan blockade connected Iranian ports to unit Tehran to reopen nan strait, pinch U.S. Central Command saying nan measures are being enforced "impartially against each vessels."

Hapag-Lloyd said its vessels person been stuck for weeks pursuing nan first closure aft nan outbreak of warfare pinch Iran connected Feb. 28.

"For us, it is captious that our vessels tin walk done nan strait soon," Haupt said.

"We connection each unit members unlimited information truthful they tin video telephone loved ones and entree entertainment. Crews are strong, but aft weeks connected committee location is increasing monotony and frustration."

"One unit knowledgeable a fire connected board from explosive fragments. Others person seen missiles aliases drones adjacent their vessels," he added.

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"They are resilient, but each further time makes nan business much difficult, much monotonous, and much stressful."

President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed not to adjacent nan strait again but aft nan closure, Trump called nan business "blackmail" and said nan U.S. would not backmost down.