Shanghai, China | 22 October 2026
The continuing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and its consequences for seafarers featured prominently at the Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit, held in Shanghai, China, on 20 and 21 October 2026. Bringing together senior leaders from shipping companies, maritime organizations, governments, financial institutions and other stakeholders, the Summit provided an opportunity to consider how the maritime industry should respond to a period of prolonged geopolitical instability. Throughout the discussions, the safety and welfare of seafarers emerged as a central concern.
The opening keynote conversation between International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and Global Maritime Forum CEO Johannah Christensen set the tone for the gathering. Dominguez spoke directly about the dangers facing merchant shipping in the Middle East and the responsibility of the industry to protect those working aboard vessels. His remarks offered a reminder that behind the statistics of disrupted trade, damaged ships and changing shipping routes are thousands of seafarers whose lives and livelihoods have been profoundly affected.
Speaking on 21 October, Dominguez warned that “shipping is being weaponized” as commercial vessels and their crews increasingly find themselves exposed to military attacks and geopolitical confrontation. He reported that more than 110 vessels had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz region, with nearly 24 seafarers losing their lives. Dominguez emphasized that the protection of human life must remain the industry’s first priority.
He urged shipowners and operators not to expose crews unnecessarily to dangerous conflict zones, even when avoiding these routes creates significant commercial disruption. His message was that economic considerations cannot justify placing seafarers in situations where their lives are at unacceptable risk. Dominguez also described the practical work undertaken by IMO in cooperation with Oman and other regional partners. Earlier in the crisis, these efforts helped facilitate the evacuation of more than 3,000 seafarers.
The conflict in the Strait of Hormuz was not confined to the opening keynote. Throughout the Summit, numerous breakout discussions addressed the wider challenge of chronic disruption arising from war, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in international trade.
For the maritime industry, the question is no longer simply how to respond to an isolated emergency. Increasingly, companies and governments must consider how to operate in an environment where conflict, security threats and geopolitical instability may persist for extended periods. These challenges have important implications for seafarers. Decisions about vessel routing, crew changes, contractual obligations and the continuation of commercial operations have immediate human consequences. Seafarers may experience prolonged periods aboard ships, uncertainty about repatriation, difficulties communicating with families and anxiety about the possibility of attacks.
The effects also extend beyond those directly exposed to violence. Seafarers serving aboard vessels operating near conflict areas must live with uncertainty about rapidly changing security conditions. Their families may face similar anxiety, often with limited information about the circumstances confronting their loved ones.
For the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) and its member organizations, the discussions in Shanghai reinforced the importance of sustained attention to the human consequences of maritime conflict.
ICMA members provide pastoral care, practical assistance and welfare support to seafarers in ports around the world. Their work becomes particularly important during periods of crisis, when crews may require additional communication with families, assistance accessing information, emotional support or help navigating difficult circumstances. The prolonged nature of the current conflict also raises questions about how welfare organizations can best support seafarers who have experienced dangerous voyages, witnessed attacks or endured extended periods of uncertainty. Some may require assistance long after they have left the immediate conflict area.
One of the strongest messages emerging from the Shanghai Summit was that the maritime industry’s resilience ultimately depends on the people who operate its ships. The conflict in the Strait of Hormuz has demonstrated both the vulnerability of merchant seafarers and the limitations of treating shipping primarily as a commercial or logistical activity. International trade depends on people who accept considerable responsibility, often while working far from home and family.