The International Maritime Organization (IMO) says roughly 400 commercial vessels and 6,000 seafarers remain trapped in the Persian Gulf, unable to depart due to the ongoing regional conflict, according to The Maritime Executive.
The UN maritime agency’s update, reported on Friday, August 28, 2026, indicates that the ships and their crews have been effectively blocked from leaving the area. The situation stems from the continued hostilities in the Middle East, which have made transit through the region’s key waterways unsafe or logistically impossible.
The Persian Gulf’s only outlet to open ocean is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that has been a focal point of the fighting. Axios reported that the United States has gained the upper hand in the battle for the strait, with one source quoted as saying, "That sucker is open." However, the IMO’s latest figures suggest that despite this tactical advantage, a significant number of vessels have not yet been able to move.
Other outlets have noted a complex picture in the waterway. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies observed that oil is flowing through Hormuz again, but not for Iran, while Barron’s reported that crude is quietly slipping through the strait, which is helping to keep a lid on global oil prices. Anadolu Ajansı also confirmed the UN agency’s account of the stranded ships.
The distinction between the strait being open for some traffic and the hundreds of vessels still waiting to exit highlights the uneven nature of the recovery. The IMO’s count of 400 ships and 6,000 seafarers underscores the continued human and commercial toll of the conflict.
What to watch next: Whether the IMO’s next update shows a meaningful reduction in the number of trapped vessels as the security situation in the strait evolves.
