Finance
Greek seafarers strike over crews stranded in the gulf by iran war
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 5, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 5, 2026
Quick Summary
Greek seafarers launched a 24‑hour nationwide strike on March 5, halting ferry services to protest the plight of crew members stranded in the Persian Gulf amid the escalating Iran‑Middle East war, demanding the area be declared a war‑risk zone to enable immediate repatriation.
Greek Seafarers Strike Over Crew Stranded in Gulf as Iran Conflict Grows
Greek Seafarers Protest and the Impact of the Iran Conflict
PIRAEUS, Greece, March 5 (Reuters) - Greek seafarers began a 24-hour strike on Thursday, halting local ferry services, as they protested over vessel crews stranded in the Gulf amid the escalating Middle East war, and demanded the area is declared a war risk zone to enable their repatriation.
The Iran conflict threatens Gulf ports and has already disrupted global trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery accounting for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. Although the Strait is not shut, Iran has warned that it will fire on any ship trying to pass through.
Greek Shipping Industry and Seafarers at Risk
Greece is a dominant force in global shipping, controlling one of the world’s largest merchant fleets. More than 325 ships of Greek interests, their crews including dozens of Greek seafarers, are in the wider Gulf area.
Union Demands and Protest Actions
"We demand that all of our colleagues, currently in the dangerous Gulf area, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea, are evacuated and safely repatriated," said Angelos Galanopoulos, head of Greece's lower engine crews' union Stephenson.
Dozens of protesters rallied outside the shipowners union near the port of Piraeus and spray-painted: "No sacrifice for profits and wars" on the ground. A motorcycle convoy drove to the shipping ministry.
International Concerns and Regional Impact
The International Maritime Organization says it is concerned for about roughly 20,000 seafarers in the region. At least nine ships have been damaged in strikes since the conflict began on Saturday.
Seafarers usually have the contractual right to refuse to sail in designated war zones and demand repatriation at the shipowner's expense.
Dozens of ships remained at anchor in open waters off the coast of major Gulf producers and dozens of oil tankers were inside the Strait, ship tracking data showed.
Risks and Calls for Action
Risks include not only attacks but also potential food and supply shortages said Apostolis Kypraios, head of the marine engineers' union PEMEN.
"The government and shipownwers are responsible for the people trapped in war areas," Kypraios said.
"We demand that they find a solution for our colleagues to return home. Their families are worried and seafarers don't know if they will return alive, if they will be injured."
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Vania Turner in Athens and Jonathan Saul in London; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Key Takeaways
- •Greek unions halted all ferry and ship departures on March 5 to demand evacuation and war‑risk designation amid threats in the Persian Gulf (greekcitytimes.com)
- •At least 10 Greek‑flagged vessels with 85 Greek seafarers are trapped in the Gulf, with another five nearby and over 325 vessels linked to Greek interests in the wider region (greekcitytimes.com)
- •The IMO warns some 20,000 seafarers are stranded in Gulf waters, with insurances canceled and global shipping severely disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, straining global energy flows (thenationalnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Greek seafarers strike over crews stranded in the Gulf by Iran war
1Why are Greek seafarers on strike?
Greek seafarers are striking to protest crews stranded in the Gulf due to the escalating Iran conflict and to demand the area be declared a war risk zone.
2How has the Iran conflict affected global shipping?
The conflict has disrupted trade through the Strait of Hormuz, put crews at risk, and led to several ships being damaged or held in open waters.
3What are Greek unions demanding for stranded seafarers?
Unions are demanding the safe evacuation and repatriation of crews stranded in conflict zones, with government and shipowners held responsible.
4How many Greek ships and seafarers are affected?
More than 325 ships of Greek interests, with dozens of Greek seafarers onboard, are in the wider Gulf area affected by the conflict.
5What risks do seafarers face in the Gulf region?
Risks include potential attacks, food and supply shortages, and the threat of being stranded in war zones.
