The seafarers are working on some 2,000 ships including oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers, cargo ships as well as six tourist cruise liners.

The ships are trapped in the Persian Gulf and are unable to pass through the narrow strait owing to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Iran borders the strait on its northern side and has said it will only allow passage to “non-hostile” ships.

Prior to the conflict, around 150 vessels passed through the waterway every day, but now only four or five do so.

On Monday, two Chinese-flagged cargo ships had reportedly embarked on the four-to-six-hour journey through the strait and into the Gulf of Oman and safer waters outside the war zone.

Attacks on ships

Since the beginning of the conflict a month ago, there have been 19 attacks on vessels in the strait, according to the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.

© IMO Crew members take a break on a ship. (file)

Ten seafarers have been killed and eight injured since the Israeli-US bombing of Iran began, sparking Iranian strikes across the Gulf.

On Tuesday, a fully loaded oil tanker was struck off the coast of Dubai, probably by an armed drone.

It remains unclear why those 19 ships were specifically targeted.

There appear to have been fewer attacks in the past week, amid increased diplomatic moves to resolve the crisis.

Seafarer safety

The IMO, which is a…